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AGNES GOODNAID 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


ON THE 

WAVES OF ETHER SPHERE. 


Grete Fischer. 


Chicago, 111., 1899, 
L • 


Copyright, 1899, by Konrad Schaefer, M. D. 
All rights reserved. 


TWO COPIES RECEIVED. 



vAA^vie^ 


CONTENTS. 


Chapt. 

I. 

Agnes Goodmaid. 

Page. 

1 

II. 

Marries the old Miser, J. Crock. 

4 

III. 

Death of her Father. 

9 

IV. 

Old Crock meets with a Rebuff. 

19 

V. 

Dr. Hardup. 

29 

VI 

Rescue. 

SI 


I. 

The Devil as Walking Delegate. 

48 

II. 

Two Travelers in search of health. 

72 

III. 

The Church Fair, the Drama. 

83 

IV. 

Harter’s Sickness. 

122 

V. 

Attraction and Repulsion. 

135 

VI. 

Spirit not in Matter. 

154 

VII. 

Capillary Attraction. 

171 

VIII. 

Make Sin Respectable. 

187 

IX. 

Heredity an excuse for Sin. 

199 

X. 

Function of Brain Ether. 

213 

XL 

A Legend. 

234 

XII. 

Harter’s Book. 

242 


CONTENTS. 


XIII. Harter’s Reincarnated Aucester. 25Y 

XIV. Cob’s Vision. 271 

XV. Presentation. 282 

XVI. Departure. 296 

XVII. Harter on a Mysterious Journey. 311 

XVHI. A new Materialism, Evolution. 331 

XIX. The Process of the Mind. 348 

XX. Grete Fischer. 357 

XXL Her Home in Ruins. 373 

XXII. Secrets of a Castle. .387 

XXIH. Crete’s Flight, Artist, Com- 
mander, Death. 403 

XXIV. Cob’s last Message. 422 

XXV. Reincarnation of Agnes 

Goodmaid. 438 


PEEFACE. 


The incomprehensibility of the creation of the 
universe has offered so vast a fiold for speculation 
and misconception" of its origin and cause it may 
seem like a pretensious object of this book to aim 
at the correction of errors and fancies, and to 
guide the wanderer on mystic paths out of delu- 
sions, and to be of service to the tired, and dis- 
couraged, and despairing in their vain search on 
ways that are deceitful and misleading. 

The enlightenment of this age has httle to con- 
tribute to the solution of man’s destiny which has 
fill ed the minds of all ages. It has taken front 
rank in the present in fanciful conceptions and 
diversified interpretations of the cumulated errors 
of the past. Scientific advancement still accepts 
the imaginary although so little satisfying, nor 
bringing man nearer to logical conclusions. 

What is the creation, what is man, what the 
object of his being, his beginning, liis future, and 
has he a future ? What is the creator of all this 
universe, from the smallest to the greatest ? Or 
is our existence attributable to the spontaneous 
action, the chance contiguity of the elements ? 


PREFACE. 


These are problems which have ever engrossed 
the minds of men from the humblest to the high- 
est and most learned. They are especially press- 
ing forward in this enlightened age; the selfish 
and ignorant are led to greater extravagance in 
speculative religion, and the wise are not free 
from listening to the imagination, dealing in 
myths as the past has multiplied error. 

The demand for more enlightened ideas of the 
surpernal based on comprehensible reasoning be- 
comes apparent as we look at the chaotic tenets 
of the creeds — men’s creations by vote — and 
diversified speculations on transcendent subjects. 
You cannot comprehend vacuity, and only that 
can satisfy which reason understands. My light 
shines not by the lustre of titles, but if one in a 
thousand will take the candle of investigation set 
before you I shall have more than succeeded ; for 
it will convince the most skeptic that I am not 
dealing in the imaginary occult. But the emo- 
tionist is not invited to become a convert. Let 
him hold fast where to believe is truth, and hear- 
say conviction. 

You can criticize how I have accomplished my 
task, but the facts are there, and they admit of 
only these conclusions, and it is not for us to im- 
prove on the creation. 

That I am right, and that my views will prevail 


PREFACE. 


and some day will be accepted as truth — the only 
explanation of our mysterious origin and destina- 
tion — of that I am convinced, though it be long 
after I am at rest. For why should I be able to 
follow this thread, step by step, adding link to 
link in this chain of eternity, and have no rest 
till I have arrived at its completeness ? At its 
completeness of the parts, not but here and there 
gaps need filling up, but additions must be made 
without resorting to the imaginary. 

Let the skeptic, the scoffer, and the indifferent 
halt long enough to think ; let him pause, who 
dearly loves his God, besides whom he will see no 
other God, to ask if he has not clothed a delusion 
in the vestments of the reahty, and my task was 
not in vain, my sufferings and privations often 
hard to bear have borne fruits inestimable of re- 
sults to doubting, uncertain humanity. 





AGNES GOODMAID. 


CHAPTER I. 

Just twenty one she arrived in her native town 
buxom and buoyant, and as free from care as 
ever a girl left boarding school, to hasten to the 
glad arms of her dearly loved father who was 
mother as well — the dear, old nurse making up 
the feminme part of what was lacking ; ‘‘ for the 
dear child,’’ Nurse would say, “ has never known 
a mother’s love.” 

Frolicking, dancing Agnes would smother her 
with a kiss, saying : ‘‘you good, old substitute, 
may every orphan fare as well, then mothers who 
must leave their loved ones behind may die in 
peace, knowing that they are well cared for.’^ 

‘How could she do it,?’ the gossips asked, as 
the startling news went from mouth to mouth, 
ever gaining in importance ; but none could ac- 
count for it, though knowing ones pretended not 
to have been taken by surprise. Indeed this class 
are always waiting for opportunities to lay claim 
to superior intelligence— time alone being necess- 


2 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


ary to prove their superiority. Charity never sits 
in judgement over others actions ; it is a heavenly 
virtue opposed to gossip as prayer is to sin. 
Charitably reported scandal ! Just think of it — 
it would die of inanition. With proper mien and 
gesture scandal gains the oftener it is told, as a 
snowball gains the oftener it is rolled. Many 
who listened with a relish and had a word to add, 
could have ansAvered hoAV the most disagreeable 
is often made the occasion of happier conditions, 
man may swallow wormwood with indifference, 
if not with a relish, when there is notliing better 
left. None would see Agnes’ a clear case of dire 
extremity. 

Marry a man who had no one’s love, old 
enough to tliink of his funeral rather than carry 
home two rosebud lips, and cheeks to pale a 
peach to shame. Her nose, of regular propor- 
tions and artistic lines, as much an ornament in 
the face as a monument of triumph on a hill site, 
should have turned up disdainfully at such a 
man. Her eyes were not black, nor blue, nor 
brown, but of a soulful hue and language a mother 
reads in baby’s orbs when cronies disagree that 
they are black or blue, and have to wait till time 
will tell. They were eyes that spoke to the soul, 
or with that merry twitching of the musculus 
hivator labii superiorus alae que nasi set a dis- 


AGNES OOODMAID. 


3 


peptic in hillarity. Give her to a soulless miser, 
‘ how could she do it ? ’ Her eyebrows were well 
marked and horizontal. I am glad nature had 
disdained to give her arched, stagey eyebrows, 
mere beauty marks without intellectual force. 
Her masses of wavy, brown hair could not conceal 
the square, high forehead wliich in pensive moods 
would indicate the force and quality of the 
thoughtful workings of the brain. The chin was 
regular and well rounded, but unobtrusive, and 
with that nose not likely to poke too much m 
other peoples’ business, dimpled whether serious 
or merry, not apt to show disagreeable tliinness 
out of health, or early aging ; and her ears were 
small and musical. As for the rest, her dress- 
maker was an artist, and nature had done all 
the most critical could demand. 

She could sing and play at sight. Her voice 
was between a soprano and contralto, but not one 
of those viscid, mucous throated sopranos of 
enormous timber requmng endless training that 
Madam may some day take a leading part in a 
country church choir devoting spare time to ‘Voice 
culture.” She was a sweet natural singer. No 
training had improved her, to have improved her 
would have spoiled her. Her whole make up was 
a grand success of nature. ‘ How could she do it ? ’ 


4 


AGNES GOOEMAID. 


CHAPTEE n. 

Arrived in her paternal arms she grasped the 
situation at a glance, and the remedy lay with 
her alone. She did not waste time in wishes and 
longings for past opportunities, for among the 
admuing throng once at her feet there w^as but 
one who could have saved her from the dire 
necessity. Alas, he did not come ! Nor was it 
from impulsiveness — action without reason — nor 
from hopefulness and desolation by tmms, drifting 
without volition. Filial love left no alternative. 
She had never done aught to show her love and 
gratitude to her dear, careworn fathor who had 
aged so fast since last she tore herself out of his 
arms, and should she now lose this opportunity, 
and shirk her duty from mere selfishness ? Nor 
could there, under the circumstances, be an awak- 
ening to the folly, as some would say, of offering 
herself on the sacrificial altar, because none asked 
for it. When necessity calls let no one shirk to 
act who can, not all are so forunately situated. 

Her course was clear, and with smiling coun- 
tenance she imparted her resolution to her father 


AGfKEfS' GOdDMAID. 


5 ^ 

as a secret, a long contemplated step prompted 
by cupidity, or vanity rather than give the faintest 
intimation of necessity. Nevertheless it struck 
the very vitals of her disconsolate parent and 
wounded mortally. 

Two agonized hearts tossed on their pillows 
that night without finding repose as formerly. 
Eelentless fate had suddenly destroyed their peace 
of mind and each searched unsparingly in the 
remotest comers of memory to discover wherem 
he had failed that sunshine was no longer their 
lot. If the father longed to undo past events her 
spirit was broken, because he didn’t seem pleased 
and hopeful for the future — as if the maturer in 
years could dispel dread forebodings of disaster 
experience had taught him to expect. Tears 
flowed freely as she rehearsed her past happiness 
and hopes for the future dashed to naught in an 
instant. His happiness was necessary to sustain 
her courage; without it could her selfreliance 
bear the strain of the choice between obscure 
poverty and affluent misery ? She was not 
deceived on the last, though vainly anxious to 
appear light hearted to gain her object ; but above 
the turmoil of her heart her father’s agony rang 
out distinctly, “ robbed and stabbed in the most 
vital of a man’s existence.” She was well aware 
to whom this applied, but suspected no other 


6 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


meanness than selfishness that the old miser made 
his assistance conditional on her becoming the 
presiding genius over liis household. Was it 
possible her father suspected liim of complicity 
in his robbery ? She was well aware that his 
reputation was none the best, but actual mllful 
villainy she could not detect ; liis actions seemed 
only to be subseiwient to greed, but he had always 
treated her as an especial favorite and had made 
the fairest promises of a continued happy exis- 
tence for her. But if her father’s suspicions rested 
on him ? — She did not utter a threat that occurred 
to her — ‘‘ it may be the only means to bring him 
to justice.” 

She calmed her turbulent emotions and it was 
evident that having failed of her father’s encour- 
agement and support she meant to take her 
chances single handed for the good of the rest — 
her father and dear, old Nurse. So confident was 
she that eventually her dear ones would become 
reconciled and happy she forgot herself entirely, 
as if she was a mere spectator in the life drama. 
In fact it seemed as if all that was necessary was 
to go passively through her part and let the pano- 
rama unroll. It did unroll and for the peace and 
quiet of her loved ones she would have it over as 
soon as possible ; but there was an entire absence 
of the usual bustle and feminine flutter on such 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


7 


occasions save that of the bride groom himself, 
lie attended to everything, fell in with every wish, 
evei’y suggestion. It was easy for him having 
the experience of two former similar occasions to 
fall back on ; but his neiTous alacrity was heigh- 
tened by the consciousness of the mean advantage 
he waa taking of liis former friend and partner 
whose quiet, sullen, grief stricken existence was 
pitiful to behold. Their last inteiwiew after Agnes’ 
confession to her father having been so pointed 
that Crock was in no doubt as to the role of the 
thief he was playing, had prepared for months 
before. 

There had always been a social difference between 
the families, but closer ties than mere business 
relations was a great comedown for the Goodmaids, 
even now when the money advantage was on the 
miser’s side. Agnes, too, had peremptorily stipu- 
lated, and he shrewdly, goodnaturedly consented, 
that their marriage de convenance was merely to 
be a nominal affair. “Of course, of course,” 
chuckled Jolm, lightly passing it over as of no 
consequence to him. It was his w^ay when he 
was determined to succeed, and when had he ever 
failed ? Seldom as he met liis prospective father 
in law it remained no secret to him that the latter 
was rapidly failing and then he was the only 
old head remaining to manage a wayward young 


8 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


woman; and he chuckled again, for he was 
already devising plans for her withdrawal from 
that society of which she hoiked through his wealth 
to continue a factor, hut wliich had never treated 
liim very generously, for old misers cut no figure in 
society. 

Mr. Goodmaid had always lived the life of an 
honest man unsusj^ecting that the path of virtue 
was running parallel to ways that are dark and 
tortuous, Avhich liis evil genius Avas treading un- 
concernedly — in fact he had never learned any 
other, having from his earliest recollection relied 
on cunning and craft as the preferable to honest 
endeavor it Avas to him as smooth and meritori- 
ous, indifferent hoAv others might AueAv it. Their 
paths had crossed, for the Ioav, cunning man 
Avilled it and laid liis plans accordingly. An un- 
fortunate speculation Avhich he projected against 
his partner’s advice caused the ruin of Goodmaid 
Avliile he continued to do business as before. The 
suspicion that he shared the profits Avith the men 
to Avhom his partner lost could not be proved. 
And noAV to roh liim of his daughter to complete 
the Avreck Avas his latest achievement. 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


0 


CHAPTER III. 

Frail and fragile natures often endure calam- 
ities and grief with all the fortitude of saints, the 
endurance of giants, recovering from one mis- 
fortune to be plunged into yet still deeper woe ; 
clinging to life with tenacity till the features are 
moulded by the misery that has stamped its im- 
press there — as he who thinks but how to fill Ms 
stomach grows to appear the animal, and he 
whose mind a blank with gaping mouth must 
gaze — they are born to grief as others are born to 
labor and privation ; yet they continue to endure 
and suffer none know how deeply. But of these 
was not the nature of Agnes Goodmaid. For 
weeks she had been watching at the bed side of 
her father who Avas so feeble, needed her care so 
much that she disdained rest and food, believing 
that her nursing and her love alone could restore 
him to health again. It never occurred to her 
that his frequent fainting spells were omhious. 
How could it ? Had she not sacrificed her happi- 
ness and liberty itself that he might not feel the 
bitterness of AA^ant and disappointment in his 


10 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


declining years ? And what was wealth to her if 
he could not share it with her ‘? Surely the crisis 
would soon come; hut he passed away so unex- 
pectedly — sweetly sleeping as she smoothed the 
wrinkles on his pillows, though his features were 
so pinched and pale. One despairing wail, as the 
truth was told her, and the unconscious woman 
was carried to her bed. 

Weeks of patient watching had passed and old 
Nui-se began to be more hopeful that she might 
not be left alone to mourn the loss of the last of 
her friends. Yet Agnes lay listlessly in her chair 
like the shadow of her former self, neither taking 
notice of time, nor her surroundings; though 
slowly, steadily gaining she showed interest only 
and asked many questions concerning her dear 
father and the happenings during her illness of 
which she had no recollection. 

The old man spent little time in her appart- 
ments which were oppressive, he did not belong to 
their circle any more than the wolf to the sheep- 
fold. His presence damped their quiet conversa- 
tion and his offers of attention were usually 
rejected. If for this he had planned revenge by 
i‘emoving into a house lately purchased in the 
suburbs his plot was well laid, for more complete 
isolation of his young wife could not well be found. 
As if delighting in his shrewd move he would now 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


11 


frequently come in showing liimself master of the 
sitiiation, giving advice, or encouragement — in 
the fashion of the miser — grumbling, leaving 
directions with Nurse for the other help to oblige 
her attendance on these, for he could not bear to 
see her sitting idle, though the good, old soul was 
always doing something for her dear Agnes. 

It was a short lived triumph and of little merit 
and had a sobering influence, when Agnes defined 
his status, as he ordered the old lady on some 
errand to the cook. Placing a chair in a conven- 
ient position to sit down he repeated the order, as 
if the old lady might be deaf, but she remained 
motionless, despite his anxiety to get her out of 
the way, the grasp of the hand she held so 
much tightened and Agnes said : “Let him carry 
his orders to his servants, you are my friend and 
not to be ordered, and Marian,” who just entered 
with some refreshments, “ is my maid.” 

He did not sit down, nor venture to reply ; he 
was beaten but not conquered, but Marian danced 
a jig after his retreating form. “ It is just what 
I have been telling myself right along, things will 
be different when Misses gets better,” said the 
roguish girl. 

With repose and good nursing the flush of health 
returned to her cheeks and the roses in the garden 
were not more lovely to look at, for it was June 


12 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


now and all nature seemed in ecstacy as the two 
friends strolled among the few flowers the garden 
afforded. The garden, what a shambling, rambl- 
ing place it was, too small for a park and too 
large for a front dooryard ; it was mainly covered 
with grass, weeds, bushes, and forest trees, a 
small patch under cultivation for vegetables and 
a few flowers between the house, set back from 
the two streets bounding it, and the stable in its 
rear. 

The house, a one story and attic structure of 
dirty red brick, well matched its surroundings. 
It was quite ample in its interior but badly 
arranged, full of angles and useless corners. The 
man Crock with his angles and crotchets fitted 
perfectly into the place. No architect could have 
improved on it, as indeed the character of the 
builder offers the richest field for his study : he 
modifies his lines according as his client is the 
angular miser, or he of large and cultivated views, 
liis mind fixed as to his needs, and of proportion- 
ate liberality. The latter delights the artist and 
encourages dreams of future greatness. He is 
the man who builds the cities, while the former 
builds only suburbs. The indecided fussy middle 
class are the terror of sensitive, artistic natures, 
they make life burdensome. One of the first 
class had evidently built this house. 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


13 


The interior of the lower part of the house was 
divided by a hall from west to east with the main 
entrance on the * Avest ; on the right Ave find tAvo 
parlors unconnected except by doors from the hall- 
Avay. On the left are three rooms and stairAvay. 
Each of these rooms is also oidy connected by 
hallway entrances. The room on the failher or 
eastside of the building Avas selected by Mrs. 
Crock, and the hall, except a door of communica- 
tion, closed up, enlarging her boudoir and con- 
necting it directly Avitli the parlor by portiers. 
The remaining tAvo rooms Avere used as dining 
room and Crock’s sleeping apartment. A Aving 
on the Avestern side of the building contained the 
cook’s department. 

To be transplanted from a home of elegance 
and comfort to such surroundings, deseiled by 
friends and society Avas not calculated to act 
beneficially on the moods of Agnes Goodmaid, 
Avhom nature had not moulded for so mean a lot. 
The beautiful Avoman was aptlv compared to a 
rose transplanted to a field of burdocks, a rose 
still, alas, less a rose than a burdock in a field of 
roses is an obnoxious Aveed. Here AAnman or 
rose must intensify a feeling of desolation seizing 
the witness, and giving the impression of neglect, it 
excites pity, and invites to mortifying surmises. 
Nor is it only cultiA^ated taste that Ave blame some 


14 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


one for a crime, or suspect a cheap imitation, 
but which experience would readily detect. To her 
few scattering neighbors she must have appeared 
like a bird of rare plumage strayed from foreign 
lands. 

It was natural the old man yielding a point in 
enlarging his wife’s boudoir should have a longing 
for a more cordial feeling — a desire for a realiza- 
tion of dreams of happy days. He had matured 
plans to have the rooms connected, to make work 
easier, he said, and more convenient for nursing, 
as if he cared how hard they wwked. He felt 
lonely and a stranger in his own family, and when 
one day, in early June, Agnes returned with nurse 
from a visit to a friend, she was so utterly aston- 
ished at what she saw on entering the house that 
speech forsook her, hut in a moment action 
took its place. Seizing an axe, “ whack, whack, 
I always loved to use carpenter’s tools,” she said 
between the blows, “and once I should have 
broken a boy’s head, if he had not jumped out 
of the way,” casting a side glance at the old man 
who moved away a step. “ Crash, crash,” and the 
casing fell in splinters at their feet, “ and a little 
bit of training school wliich you have yet to' get,” 
another side glance as Crocck silently retreated, 
defeated in his best intentions, “ was not tin-own 
away on me.” Then she picked up a board and 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


16 


saw and fitted it to the opening which the carpen- 
ter had made in the partition, dexterously driving 
in the nails to close it up. 

She was ready to saw off another board, but 
the young man of the plane had recovered from 
his surprise and admiration for the handsome 
woman whose heightened complexion from the 
vigorous exercise so much enhanced her beauty, 
now offered to board up the opening, and Agnes 
retreated to her room but presently returned to 
countermand the order — after all the door could 
be finished. 

Silently the man obeyed rather glad the old 
man came off so easily, and he would not lose 
his job, though much puzzled what could have 
changed her mind so suddenly. Later in the day, 
when the great commotion in the other rooms 
became visible as well as audible — Crock’s bed- 
room furniture being replaced by the diningroom 
settings — he smiled and wondered, if his wife, 
when that w^ould come to pass, would be as anxi- 
ous to put doors and partitions and distance 
between them. 

When Crock returned at night and Agnes ad- 
mitted that the door was a great improvement, 
adding much to the convenience of the rooms, he 
melted into a broad smile of satisfaction, which 
vanished as suddenly on being told that to save 


16 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


him the annoyauce of her possibly too heavy 
breatliing, rendered still more audible by the con- 
necting door, she had arranged liis bedroom in an- 
other part of the house ; be was dazed and utterly 
unable to reply. Defeated in the morning and 
routed at night he had not the strength left for 
resentment. Her independent spirit overawed 
him, and the fear of their unhappy relations 
becoming public, compelled liim to silence. He 
dreaded to be made the subject of ridicule and 
must bear his disappointment, though chagrined 
to have to acknowledge defeat when he expected 
an easy victory. 

“ That woman — ” he was undressing in liis new 
quarters, “ and her father I could beat at any- 
thing.” He shuddered, for a new thought crossed 
his mind. “ Her father — ” he started in alarm. 
Superstition the twin sister of a guilty conscience 
was fast getting the better of him. A hasty 
glance surveyed the room as if to reassure him- 
self then he silently crept in the bed. 

As for Agnes her victory gave her no feeling of 
exultation. She had expected a stubborn resist- 
ance and was prepared to drop the matter. It 
was to be an admonition, and he could change 
back if he liked ; for what’s a door with a lock 
and the key in her possession ? In his absence 
she felt sorry for the old man, and was very un- 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


IT 


happy at times doubting the justness of her con- 
duct ; but these moments of contrition vanished at 
the mere sight of him, or hearing his voice suffic- 
ing to bring back her intense disgust, always 
associated with her father’s failure and death. 

Agnes was standing at the window of her bou- 
doir listlessly looking at the sign accross the 
street, which had so often annoyed her during the 
winter with those doleful sounds produced by its 
swinging in the wind. She was so unhappy and 
miserable the melancholy creaks, as the sign 
swung back and forth, seemed as the echo of her 
own heart aches; or like the feeble efforts of 
invisible friends to communicate some horrible 
secret. She wondered why its noises sounded so 
rusty, and for the first time she was brought in 
communionsliip with the sign and the unfortunate 
doctor whose business it proclaimed. As her eyes 
wandered over the vacant old house they were sud- 
denly arrested by the opening of the door, and its 
lonely occupant, after looking up and down the 
street, descended the steps and slowly walked 
towards the corner of the street. Staidled by the 
sudden advent of the handsome, manly figure in 
this desolation, she stepped beliind the curtain 
from whence she absorbed the details of his per- 
sonallity. How he contrasted with the doctor of 
of her imagination, when she first heard of him as 


18 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


having neither practice nor money ; he was young 
and handsome, neatly dressed, though his clothes 
were not new ; he had an air of intelligence and 
good breeding in his appearance — education. He 
was not old, seedy, eccentric and poor — the reverse 
of prepossessing, something like old Crock — as a 
doctor might appear who had mistaken his calling. 

The entrance of her old friend dispelled her 
dream, she blushed and felt confused for being hi 
hiding, but the remark cf the old lady conveyed 
no intimation that she was aware of any unusual 
occurrence. She hoped the doctor had not seen 
her, he had not appeared to look that way, and 
yet if he had ? She busied herself to get ov.^r 
her confusion, for what should she care ? 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


19 


CHAPTEK IV. 

As much as Agues tried to avoid the window 
it was impossible to banish the cause of her retic- 
ence from her mind, when every creak of the sign 
screeched out his significant name and made it 
more familiar to her ear. Dr. Hardup, as Marian 
had laugliingly called liim, was uppermost in her 
mind, perhaj)s because he was the nearest and only 
neihgbor whom she considered socially and intel- 
lectually her equal ; for that he was an educated 
gentleman his whole appearance indicated. Char- 
latans and adventurers are never of a retiring 
disposition, and it is in the bustle of cities where 
we find them — where they look for prey. In all 
probability he is a German pliilosopher who with 
his books and liis abstraction is not aware of his 
privations,living by the motto that “ science must 
be sought.” The pretender advertises a knowl- 
edge wliich he does not possess. In this country 
we call such philosophy business incapacity which 
never thrives, for although fate may stumble on 
you sometime, she does not follow a fellow around 
town. “Perhaps he is unhappy like myself, and 


20 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


does not care what becomes of him.’’ A sigh 
escaped her overburdened heart, then she crept 
noiselessly to the fence — she was walking in the 
garden — where protected by shrubbery and in the 
shadow of the house, she could hear the doctor 
softly singing on liis steps. 

The loneliness of the scene, the moon now 
under a fleeting cloud, now bright as day, intensi- 
fied the sadness of the brilliantly melodious tenor 
voice. Such pathos is not artificial, and she dis- 
missed the suggestion of “professional” impa- 
tiently. It was a spontaneous, natural feeling 
that could give utterance to song like that, and 
surely if tears were not in liis eyes hers were filled 
in sympathy as she went in the house crushed 
and in despair. 

“ Poor, poor dear,” her old friend softly cooed, 
petting her and pressing the quivering girl close 
to her sympathetic bosom, which did little good, 
and the old lady herself broke domi and abruptly 
left the room unwilling to betray how much she 
realized Agnes’ unfortunate situation. It was for 
the first time she had seen the dear girl give way 
to her feelings in tears and sobs, since she was a 
full grown woman, and it broke the old lady’s 
heart. 

When Agnes peered over towards the now dimly 
lighted windows she saw the doctor’s shadow pass 


AGNES GOODmiD. 


21 


up and down the room. She repeated the vrords of 
the weirdly fascinating song and wildly wrung her 
hands, exclaiming : “ Oh what shall I do, how 
can I help him ? ” And the magic of sympathy 
in the companionsliip of misery drew her closer 
to the window wliich thenceforth became her 
favorite nook. ’ The noise of the sign had charms 
that soothed to rest, and revived expectations 
and hope. The thought of him no longer fright- 
ened her, hut as the queer words of his song, 
a farwell to his sign, occurred to her she moaned : 
“Why live in tliis isolation,” and the sign creaked 
for answer, “ no money to live elsewhere.” 

“ How can I help liim, what can I do ‘? 

For answer to her appeal she repeated the Ger- 
man words of the song like fervently whispered 
prayer. 

Farewell, dear friend of olden time. 

Farewell, though mournful is thy creak. 

And dread forebodings are thy chimes ; 

Yet wilt thou creak for many a week. 

As if in pain in nerve and vein. 

Or from a strain on crutch and cane. 

If spirit does all things pervade 
In thee I see an angel’s form ; 

Thy creaks, 0 sign, so cheaply made. 

Have meaning not to me unknown ; 


22 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


• 

Each creak, and groan, from eve till morn 
Adds to my load more grief and woe. 

As if in pity thou didst say : 

‘ It is not here where we shall reap. 

Harvests of high honor and rich pay. 

From want, temptation you to keep.’ 

As if in pain in nerve and vein 
Thy creaks despair to me convey.” 

“ Ah, I have it,” she exclaimed excitedly. ‘ As 
if in pain in nerve and vein,’ I’ll he Ids patient, 
so sick, and pay him for the cure ; hut how 
shall I proceed ‘? I fancy the old hermit lies 
awake of nights, and Nurse is just as bad, but 
why delay on that account ?” And she pro- 
ceeded to get ready. Old clothes, a shawl to put 
over her head, fell readily to hand. An old, gray 
wig used last when her father was still living, and 
happy, doting on his little old grandmother, ‘just 
like that picture on the wall.’ She looked so 
comical, her ruddy face bounded on each side by 
a puff of gray hair parted heart shape on the fore- 
head, leaving only the nose and chin visible, and 
concealing the sparkling eyes from the sides. 
“ But the father is dead now, perhaps this mo- 
ment with grandmother watcliing over me, who 
can tell, with approval or with sorrow.” She felt 
sad and unable for action, A glance at the win- 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


23 


dow opposite, where the pale curtain of despaii 
hid the bright rays of genius from view, neglected, 
misought, struggling with pride and poverty, 
man’s deadhest enemies, and a new stimulus im- 
pelled her to action. “ Tonight and now,” she said, 
putting on her disguise. “ Good intentions will 
bear fruits in heaven,” and noiselessly raising the 
'window she leaped to a limb of a tree two yards 
away. The lasliings of the branches against the 
building frightened her, it had never made such a 
noise, but perceiving no stir inside she dropped 
to the ground. In the farthest corner of the 
fence a rotten board was torn away for exit. 
Eehearsing how to get in, and what to say her 
heart beat fast, and her throat was dry and 
parched, she almost forgot the object of her 
coming and wished to be well out of it. “ Yes, 
what shall I say ? ” Steps and the appearance 
of the doctor in the open door attracted her atten- 
tion. She retreated a few steps in the shadow 
till Ihs voice arrested farther flight. 

“ The world will not stop in its course, because 
of the loss of a man, ’tis said ; but have not arts 
been lost, because those who practiced them have 
died ? And even individuals have been worth 
generations of block heads. Alas, it’s all up now ; 
though no generation dies in me, my toil, my skill 
have all been vain attempts, and what humanity 


2 ^ 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


has lost will not even be my gain. The creaks 
of my sign they have not heeded. I wish I could 
plant it on my grave as a just rebuke to suffering 
humanity ; at all events, to save my name from 
the rubbish of the alley I’ll leave the request to 
have it buried with me in my coffin. I shall 
laugh at them when I am done with life, and lest 
there is no laughing after death, let me enjoy this 
privilege now — ha, ha, ha. ! It is too serious to 
laugh at one’s own expense and about as easy as 
to shed tears at one’s funeral. Farewell, fond, 
doting mother. But away, why cast regrets at 
childhood’s hopeful days ? Away with thoughts 
of life, and manly sports and plays.” 

Terror had long seized Agnes ere this soliloquy 
was ended. Her hair seemed to lift the wig and 
shawl in the am, and her tongue was glued to the 
roof of her mouth, momentarily expecting him to 
draw a revolver and crash into eternity. His 
retreating foot steps broke the spell and she 
rushed after him two steps at a time. “ Heavens, 
is he demented ?” Hearing no reply to her 
repeated raps she opened the door and found him 
sitting, his bowed head resting on his hands. 

“Beg pardon, good sir, I did not hear you 
call, I am getting a little deaf,” remembering her 
ancient part, “ I hope you are not ill, is aught 
amiss ? Can you relieve my aches and pains ^ 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


25 


Of the wealth I cannot use I’ll give you freely, 
say but you can help me hang on a little longer.” 

“ Has not tliis life had enough of bitterness for 
you ?” 

“ It is so pleasant here, sn*, and none can tell 
what comes hereafter.” 

“ I hope it is anniliilation, Madam.” 

“ 0 say not that, such thoughts come of bad 
digestion, morbid mind, disappointment. Just 
contemplate what happiness awaits 5W to meet 
your fiiends, father and mother, other dear one’s, 
when this mortal clay no longer does encumber 
you.” 

“ Tut, tut, enough of your surprises, you’d 
make existence a continuous struggle, there as 
here. No, no, annihilation is far preferable,” he 
said warmly and resumed his former position. 

” Sir, I came here to be healed of mortal ail- 
ments and find you need a spiritual adviser far 
more urgentl3^ I claim this priviledge, now I 
have found you. You must not refuse. I will 
visit you every evening, or as often as circum- 
stances will permit. Shake not your head, I will 
not weary you with tiresome sermons or meaning- 
less prayers : such are for those who need others to 
do their tliinking. Salvation lies not in prayers 
and sermons, but in deeds and their results. A 
happy state of mind may contemplate existence, 


26 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


present and hereafter. Ostentatious agonies of 
fervency are not in what my God takes pleasure. 
He made this eaidh a happy dwelling place and 
the fault is ours, if we are miserable.’^ Suddenly 
remembering her own condition she was startled 
at her speech, and sighed deej^ly, and the doctor 
slowly raised his head, the music of the speaker’s 
voice had reached his ear, but as if disgusted he 
turned away muttering in German : “ Such a 
fright and happiness ! 

And Agnes answered him in English : “ E’en 
the plainest have their measure of happiness — 
pride being tempered by their plainness. Lest 
piide beget jealousy and discontent in those of 
humbler mien and carriage, their measure of 
happiness is easier filled, expecting less.” 

Time passed rapidly and he seemed enteidained 
and brightened up a little listening to her fluent 
tongue and apt remarks. She had succeeded in 
diverting his attention from himself. “ And now 
I must be gone,” she said, “ but to morrow evening 
I’ll call for my prescription, which you must pre- 
pare till then.” Taking out her purse she added, 
“ the fee I’ll pay to night.” 

Waving the proffered purse away he said, 
“ there is no need of feeing me.” 

You cannot listen to an old woman’s prattle 
by the hour without your fee,” she urged. 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


27 


“Your talk lias entei’tained me; alas, I fear 
you will not find me here to morrow evening, and 
I would caution you not to go out so late at night.” 

“The garb of age fears not the snares of 
youth,” replied Agnes dramng her shawl closer 
around her. 

“Vice is rampant at night, you cannot go 
alone,” he said, and reacliing for his hat was ready 
to accompany her. 

“Please, sir, I must go alone, although the 
ghost of Plato walk between us,” said Agnes 
decidedly. 

Sadly smihiig he answered : “ You quite for- 
get the garb of age, it is more potent than the 
ghost in whom none have ever believed.” 

“You cast suspicion ? I go alone.” 

“Not on the ghost,” wearily taking his seat 
again. 

“ To morrow evening then, dear, I’ll call again.” 

“What profit to live over another day ?” 

“Hope on,” encouraged Agnes entreatingly 
moving a step towards liim, “ though rough is the 
road we travel, yet the temple of happiness may 
be just beyond the first turn.” 

From the time she heard Ins song to the mo- 
ment she stood at the steps an age seemed to 
have passed. There was a bond of union in their 
suffering, entwining her life mth His, and grasping 


28 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


her wig from her head the beautiful woman stood 
for a moment before the astonished gaze of the 
man, as if to challenge his admiration, but with- 
out giving liim time to recover from his surprise 
she stooped down to imprint a kiss on his sorrow- 
ful forehead. “You cannot, must not die, or 
there is no virtue in a kiss.” 

In an instant he w^as on his feet, but too late to 
reton her purse she quietly dropped on the table. 
Unable to grasp its meaning he stood speechless 
looking after his mysterious visitor. Was it all. 
a dream, had liis excited nerves given him a night- 
mare ? But there was the evidence of the reahty, 
and he could still feel her burning lips on his fore- 
head. Under the spell of her revelation he stood 
rooted to the floor till the impulse of his thoughts 
unconsciously set him in motion. For the hmi- 
dredth time going over the details of his strange 
visit he became at last aware by the tired feeling 
in his limbs, as he mechanically walked the floor, 
that the night was waning and with it his suicidal 
intentions. It was late in the morning when he 
awaked, still puzzled, but with a determination to 
continue the struggle. 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


29 


r* 

CHAPTER V. 

Agnes climbed lier tree and a leap from a 
higher limb landed her in her window. Her 
couch was restful after the exercise, but it had no 
sleep for her ; she had a dangerous patient and 
as a conscientious physician she surveyed her 
remedies to be prepared for emergencies. And 
how few they were not being able to use heroic 
measures, for she was certain he Avould not accept 
a further roll of bills, though she had no doubt as 
to the perfect safety of such a course of treat- 
ment judiciously applied. She had no fear that 
her sympatliies might get the better of her judge- 
ment, for if remedies of a liigher potency would ^ 
give relief they could be beneficially supplemented 
by more substantial means. 

Her own unhappiness inclined to sympathy 
and his attractive, manly appearance, his well 
bred bearing had won her admiration. His pride 
would not bear humiliation; it requires courage for 
the last act in the drama of life. He needs but 
direction, wise counsel for usefulness, a helpmate 
and sharer of pleasures and sorrows — a woman, 


30 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


quick witted, unselfish. Such a man’s motives 
not pure and noble ? One less virtuous would 
never act thus. 

Love seeks her ideals-/%in noble impulses and 
knows no restraints or conventionalities when 
finding them under trials like these. “ Oh, I love 
him, I love him,” she cried, her sobs agitating 
her whole body, nor did she try to control herself. 
The sadness of the scene in front of the old house, 
she, bound hand and foot, unable to give assist- 
ance, was too heavy a load to bear. She kissed 
him again on his handsome forehead and breathed 
his narhe, — “Goodnight” — ^until her sobs were 
lost in sighs and her overstrained nerves found 
repose in peaceful sleep. 

Her first thought in the morning tripped over 
across the street, where the doctor’s sign still 
smmg in the air, and she was hopeful that all 
^was well, but feeling very anxious. As to the 
promised visit in the evening her anxiety was too 
great to postpone it. She must see if a new train 
of thought was set in motion, weaving into reality 
the invisible thread of mystery surrounding his 
unknown friend who so unexpectqjlly cared and 
watched for liis coming and going, and was near 
him at the moment of greatest peril. 

The sense of a commotion somewhere and the 
lateness of the hour interrupted further meditation. 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


31 


During her absence the servants had a good time 
and empty bottles and glasses on the table gave 
rise to the disturbance which the old man was 
making, on suspicion of his 'snfe’s guilty entertain- 
ment of friends. The loss of the wine was cause 
enough for his wrath, added to jealousy it increased 
the sensibilities of the injured husband ten fold. 
Thanks to his isolation, and the good old nurse’s 

spooks of pillows and night caps, and mysterious 
noises — she understood liis psychology perfectly 
— he had discovered serious objections to the 
place and had been out to sell it. 

“ Poor Agnes will die of loneliness,” and the 
old lady felt justified in playing her pranks on 
his window ; but Crock had sold just as his wife 
found her country residence attractive. “ I have 
become accustomed to the creaks of that sign, as 
one gets used to the ticks of the clock ; when it 
stops I miss it, as you miss an old friend. I 
cherish this house for the bitter experience, the 
sad memories which cling to its environments.” 
And to Crock’s offer to hang a board on a post, 
she spitefully replied : that creaks of a board 
pointing to nobody existing nowhere, were as 
unattractive as the love of a man who had out- 
lived love’s conditions. 

Such sallies seemed to be refreshing and invig- 
orating, affording her the only means to steel 


AGNES GOODMAID4 


herself against the disappointments of her situa- 
tion, however she deplored these feelings when 
alone. He had not j^et relinquished the idea of 
mastering her pride and managing his household 
to liis liking. When in possession of her secrets 
wdiich he was sure to discover, he would have an 
hypnotic force of the greatest influence. “ I shall 
not be at home to night, ha, ha, ha ; but her girl 
is handsome, I am on the best of terms with her.” 
Old acquaintances smiled, as he passed them 
without the usual recognition. “No wonder,” 
they said, “ he is quite losing his head.” 

The shadows of night fell heavily around the 
infirm, old lady lingering a moment on the door 
steps, undecided whether to go in, loud talking 
disconcerted her, not sure he was alone. “ Is it not 
enough to struggle against poveHy and unde- 
served neglect, to endure the jibes and jeers of 
unscrupulous ignorance wliich succeeds, because 
abundantly supplied with means ? The poor man’s 
children cry for bread for want of them, and I 
fail. To make the brimful cup run over the god 
of love unfurls his gauzy wings, and tricldes in 
liis minims of the possibilities of man’s desire, 
the sum total of all human vanity and selfish- 
ness.” Convinced by the last few words that he 
was alone Agnes w^as soon in the doctor’s presence. 

The doctor seemed surprised and brightend up 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


33 


a little, ill pleasant conversation forgetting liis 
misery which cliiefly arose from closing his eyes 
to business methods. He was greatly interested 
in phylosopliical studies and wdiile thus diverting 
liis mind he w^as not aware that time and money 
are fleeting objects. And she, too, was reminded 
that the time was passing rapidly, she could 
have listened all night. He promised to have 
courage in future ; “ it was an experience not 
without its lesson, when he had not dreamed of 
having a friend in the world she had found and 
saved him ; should he lose faith after that ? ” 

In the meantime the old man was dilligently at 
work to get possession of his wife’s secret. He 
continued to have a high opinion of liimself as a 
detective preeminently qualified for the most diffi- 
cult job, to entrap a truant- wife, until his stupid- 
ity could not be doubted even by himself. 

He would not have entrusted another mth his 
family secret even wdth less confidence in himself. 
He considered it sufficient punishment to bring 
the proud woman to her knees, suing for pardon, 
and desired no witnesses to expose his shame; 
court proceedings w^ere farthest from his mind, for 
ignorance of the public estimation of himself 
could not be charged to him, and he dreaded 
the dmision of the scoffers. “ A handsome w^oman 
can sail in anywhere, all the men in town will be 


34 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


her champions,” he said, and began to prepare 
for liis work. He thought of the result, if he suc- 
ceeded to trap her. Would she sue for pardon ? 
On the contrary, her pride stood in her way, 
a flat denial was to be expected. His object would 
not be attained. To a stranger she might offer 
terms for secrecy. How he would confront her 
with a bribe — liimself being the stranger ! And 
again if he failed and was detected ? He dared 
not contemplate the consequences. In either case 
disguise was necessary. A jet black beard, and 
a ruddy complexion wnuld give him the appear- 
ance of a veritable Mexican bandit — he corrected 
himself, saying, ” senor.” 

The time for action had arrived and he repaired 
to liis coign of observation among the shrubbery in 
the garden ; thence, having previously unfastened 
the parlor window, he raised it and stepped in. 
Already he could hear voices, he w'as just in time, 
and tiptoeing in the hall there was only one door 
betw^een liim and the destroyer of his happiness 
in her boudoir. But the sound of voices, and the 
clink of glasses, came from the dining room. 
Trembling with excitement he retraced his steps, 
and stumbling over the rug he fell heavily against 
the door throwing it wide open to the consterna- 
tion of the guests who sat in twos around the 
table. 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


35 


The women screamed and fled towards the 
kitchen door, the men stood on the jump, aghast 
at the sudden interruption, but the prostrate 
man made no effort to arise. “ Killed,” said one, 
“ get the whisky, “ cried several at once, and they 
all rallied to the rescue. Wine was substituted 
till the whisky bottle was found and much of it 
spilled, and with the water applied to his face a 
most laughable mixture of lampblack and rouge 
was collected on his shirt front. His disguise 
was discovered, and Marian and the cook recog- 
nized their master ; but their beaux continued to 
apply restoratives, more from deviltry than the 
need of it, for it was really the first good time 
the old man had enjoying his own wine. They 
were all in a maudlin condition, but Crock’s heavy 
tongue demanded more wine, “ the guests are 
dry,” he said, and the willing Marian who had 
never enjoyed herself so much, promptly complied 
with his wishes. Unfortunately the hillarity of 
Easy, her lover, who proposed a song especially 
appropriate, invited others to the party. 

Agnes contended herself with a glance tlnough 
the crack of the door and retired, leaving it to 
Nurse who was shocked at the scene, to disperse 
the queer assemblage. 

“ What are you doing here ? Leave the house,” 
she said peremptorily from the open door. 


36 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


“Is it anybody’s business replied Easy, 
mockingly raising his glass. 

“ You leave yourself, we are here by the invita- 
tion of the old gent,” retorted the cook’s cousin 
Joe. 

“It’s the finest evening of liis life,” was Easy’s 
sarcastic addition, “ we are such fine company.” 

“ It’s Mr. Crock, mam, in disguise ; he was 
after catching Mrs. Crock, mam, with some other 
fellow, sure,” explained Marian. 

“ And came near having a parapolitical fit right 
on this blissed floor, but for the gents bringing 
him to,” was the cook’s defense. Crock had 
nothing to say having dropped asleep in an easy 
chair where they left liim. 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


37 


CHAPTER VI. 

Her first thought on awaking was the doctor’s, 
as was her first glance across the street, and it 
was well she was only pulling on her stockings on 
her low seat. A suppressed cry of agony escaped 
her lips and consternation was depicted in her 
features ; but no one but Agnes could have discov- 
ered aught amiss witliin her range of vision over 
the window stool. 

The old house opposite was still there, had not 
colapsed like the one horse chaise, nor was it going 
to walk away on stilts, or in possession of a mob ; 
there was not a living creature visible, to have 
caused this outcry of hopeless despair, when only a 
moment before she was weaving pleasant antici- 
pations for the evening’s visit into being, wliich 
turned to bitterest heart ache. Again thrust into 
darkest loneliness, not a soul to offer consolation 
or support in her isolation, not a ray of sunshine in 
the companionship of misery to light up her wav- 
ering foot steps, or give strength in the thought 
of one human sympathy, was harder to bear 
after tasting of an elusive hope. 


38 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


Distmstiiig the demure sheepishness of the old 
miser, since his debauch a few evenings before, 
Agnes had not repeated her visit ; and now, where 
was her friend ? What new calamity was con- 
fronting her ? The creak of the sign did not 
greet her, for it was not there, and the house was 
deserted by its lonely occupant. Not a clue or 
surmise to his movements, her forced inactivity 
was torturing ; for, though wiser counsel prevailed, 
it was a desperate struggle to bear the uncertainty 
till evening, when she would kneel in prayer on 
the ground his foot had so recently pressed. 

Exhausted by the agony of grief she threw her- 
self on the bed burying her face in the pillows and 
her impulsive nature gave way to her suffering. 
When hope, ever active, only apparently stunned 
by the unexpected blow, gradually crept to the 
surface again she had worked out her problem. 
Yes, she would find him by the creak of his sign, 
though she could not see the name. And sol- 
emnly, sadly, she took up her vigil at the window, 
but not a flicker or ray of light did Vesta send 
accross the street, not a foot fall in the neighbor- 
hood caused even a flutter in the vibrations of 
ether. , 

With a little cry of surprise she reached eagerly 
for the card just dropped from her trembling hand, 
for the side that fell upwards disclosed the out- 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


39 


lines of the old woman, which in her disappoint- * 
ment at tlie unsatisfying message “ Adieu,” had 
escaped her notice before. “ Adieu ” had now a 
special meaning for her, and the volume contained 
in “ Auf wiedersehn,” not translatable into English 
furnished food for the imagination ; but she would 
“ see him again,” sooner than he would expect her. 

From a recluse she now became a wandering 
jew, and the streets and business places, and the 
signs advertising the doings inside became famil- 
iar objects to her. She had always been an 
unconscious sign reader on riding through the 
street, here and there mentally commending, often 
wearily turning away from the fruitless exercise, 
yet as often to return to it a minute later ; now 
she read the signs with an object, but the days 
wore on and the months passed by without find- 
ing a trace of Dr. Hardup. And as each day she 
returned more disconsolate than before, the gloom 
and discontent that settled over her increased 
with each fruitless search, and the quarrels and 
differences of the Crock family rose to a threaten- 
ing degree. Not that Agnes wasted words which 
a younger antagonist worthier of her mettle 
might have elicited. “ Polite coolness properly 
maintained cuts deeper than hot curses,” she said. 
He smarted and vented his spite on liis help, and 
nursed the delusion that his pleasant exterior 


40 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


was tlie safeguard of liis secret. They met less 
frequently than formerl}^ even at meal time Crock 
now often sat alone. 

Agnes began to think of desperate measures to 
free herself from the chains that hampered her 
liberty, above all to find the proof of his villainy, 
which had almost come to be a conviction, alas, 
supported only by a dream showing the inside of 
the safe. “ She must see what is in the safe,” was 
her companion thought. It was easy to get a 
copy of the key of an old safe and she had the 
combination. What would he do about it, if 
detected ? 

Such were the cogitations of her excited mind 
when she had a visit from an old school friend, 
which afforded her a temporary respite. It was 
affecting, as the friends who had not met since 
their school days, drew each other to a school 
girl’s bosom matured in years, for youthful mem- 
ories clung pleasantly to both. But the lull of the 
storm in Agnes’ breast was passing — the few 
days visit had expired. Seperated so many years, 
Mrs. Friend living abroad, their farewell was the 
more affecting, and with renewed assurances of 
lasting friendship they embraced and kissed, and 
wept on each other’s neck. Repeatedly holding 
xVgnes at arm’s length to draw her up again to 
say endearing words, but when the latter whis- 


AGNES GOODMAIl). 


41 


pered in the friend’s ear “would she let John 
come to her aid, should she need him,” the flood 
gates of emotion were thrown wide open. “ Oh, 
has it come to that ? I knew you are not happy, 
but my worst fears have been exceeded. Yes, he 
shall come night or day whenever he can help 
you.” And again they embraced till Mr. Friend 
came in and threw his arms around both kissing 
each in turn. He had been school boy with the 
girls and often was in doubt which he liked best. 
Their handkerchiefs fluttered as long as they could 
see each other then all was dark despair for 
Agnes. 

Desperation was the needful condition of mind 
to be in to burglarize her husband’s store, or if 
not quite so bad, at night to pry into the secrets 
of the safe. How she would gain admittance 
to the store, or rather become acquainted with an 
employe to assist her was not clear to the despe- 
rate woman. Never entering the place she was an 
entire stranger to them all and had incidentally 
heard that a new man was now on the books. The 
young man driving the wagon was the only con- 
nection between her and the safe. He opened 
and closed the store, but it was not probable that 
the key was left in his charge over night ; and 
could she trust a man with a broad Irish dialect, 
and seeming little intelligence ? He claimed to be 


42 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


a German, which, judging by his name,wastiue 
enough. He said laugliingly : “ My father gave 
me the name, he could do no less, the neighbor’s 
girls have the brogue, and my mother made me 
what I am.” 

At last she had sounded him and her repug- 
nance to trust an inferior was overcome by his 
intelligent answers. The rear door, o\Hng to 
Crock’s stinginess, could easily he opened, without 
neglect of duty. Under pretense of search for a 
lost letter she believed w^as in the safe she secured 
not only his promise to accompany her, but his 
caution suggested the assistance of a friend, true 
as steel, and a hercules, a useful acquisition should 
danger threaten them. 

It was only a suspicion she and the old lady 
had long entertained that some evidence of guilt 
was hidden in the safe, and her feverish excite- 
ment disturbed her sleep. She had visions of 
gold and documents, her father’s handwaiting 
appeared as through a mist, and melted awaiy as 
it came, which haunted her even in the daytime. 
The hour w^as set, but Agnes could not decide 
between Hercules and Mr. Friend whose company 
would be less likely to compromise her if discov- 
ered. But would he not he exposed to criticism 
and censure ? And would not his scruples stand 
in the w^ay of her project ? Her indecision was 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


48 


settled at last -Mr. Friend was away from home 
and her impatience would Jbear no delay. 

Unlike professional burglars who operate in the 
small hours of the night, they set out while the 
streets were still frequented by pedestrians, being 
less exposed to the scrutiny of policemen. Thus 
it happened that the book keeper had only just 
put out the light in his little office, as the wooden 
bar of the rear door dropped to the floor. Start- 
led, he was for a moment undecided whether to 
give an alarm or to lie in wait for the intruders, 
when a woman’s scream caused him to step behind 
a pile of goods. The cat had brushed against the 
intruder’s legs and the boys were bubbling over 
with suppressed laughter. A mouse, said one in 
a stage whisper and their sides were splitting, 
hardly hearing, “ remain near the door,” said in 
the female voice, “ while I go in alone.” For a 
time all was still save for the creeping up of her 
companions, and by the shimmer of the light 
reflected on the ceiling the book keeper was certain 
she was at the safe. 

It was a terrible suspense to liim and how 
familiar the sound of that voice, though sup- 
pressed to a whisper, but the silence was suddenly 
broken. In his eagerness to see, as well as hear, 
the pile of goods in front of him began to tumble, 
and things seemed to be falling all over the store. 


44 


* AGNES GOODMAID. 


causing a fearful noise intermingled mth a wom- 
an’s scream. Then all was hushed, the stillness 
of night being only interrupted by groans. Some 
one was hurt, but there was a more urgent call 
in the office where a blazing fire was rapidly kin- 
dling. The man who could have prevented this 
turn of the calamity by giving an early alarm, 
found the burglar, a woman in man’s clothes, 
outside the office. His first impulse was to carry 
her to the door for air, his next was to make her 
a prisoner. And with her in his arms, in his haste 
to get away, he stumbled over boxes and barrels, 
while the police and fire men were battering in the 
door, and arrived breathless in his office, where he 
deposited her on a lounge and locked the door. 
Having assured liimself that she was not hurt, in 
a few minutes he was again on his way through the 
alley to look after the others. It was long before he 
returned, and with sadness in his voice he said : 
“ My career as a book keeper has come to an 
end and who can tell what trouble may result.” 

Agnes had not been unconscious, but so pros- 
trated by the fright received, that she was as 
helpless as a cliild. The few words restored her 
like an electric shock ; she instantly recognized 
the voice, though she dared not open her eyes lest 
she betray herself. What joy at finding him ! 
Yet her suspense was terrible, and if he should dis- 


AGNES GOODMAiD. 


45 


cover her? A noise on the stairs almost ' echoed 
her thoughts, and men were soon pounding on the 
door. Her long lost friend, for it was no other, 
hastened to meet them, then, as if not knowing 
what to do he turned towards his prisoner. Agnes 
was up in an instant and the doctor motioned to- 
wards the door opposite. Two men, carrying a 
third, entered as Agnes disappeared, and laid the 
old miser down where his wife had lain two min- 
utes before. 

“ This is the nearest office where we could carry 
him, for he is badly hurt by a fall,” they said. 
“ He is the owner of the store burned down,” and 
having no further concern in the matter left him 
in the doctors’s care. The doctor, too, left him 
for a few minutes to get an anodyne, for the old 
man was in pain, but the burglar prisoner stepped 
in : “ Are you much hurt ? ” she enquired unsym- 
pathetically. Surprised he made a feeble effort 
to respond, proving that he was not unconscious, 
and recognized her voice. When after a pause 
Agnes spoke again all feeling for human suff- 
ering had vanished in her voice as she said: 
“ You might have saved yourself that fall, if you 
had but known that the evidence of your guilt in 
my father’s ruin is in my hands. The devil’s 
promptings, or fear of your partners in crime, has 
delivered you up to justice. I, too, was brought 


46 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


here from the store ; it was my lantern which 
accidentally set the fire.” He made an effort to 
raise himself, as if to look at her as she stood at 
the upper end of the lounge, but failed, and she 
contmued more bitterly, “ a just Nemesis,” inton- 
ating each word in suppressed voice, “ has sent 
you here to learn the verdict of your judge, from 
the lips of the woman whose father you robbed of 
all earthly goods, his life, and the dearest he 
possessed — his daughter.” 

“ Have mercy,” he feebly wliispered. 

“ Mercy ! ” she almost shrieked, “ for the man 
who robbed the father of the daughter, and her of 
her liberty and happiness ? What right had you, 
has any man at your age, to blast the life of an 
unfortunate, young woman, unfit her for the 
present, and wreck her for the future ? Go home, 
and await the harvest of your wicked sowing.” 
Foot steps nearing she almost hissed in his ear : 
” Call for a carriage,” and vanished. 

The doctor proceeded to administer the dose 
notwithstanding the old man’s efforts to the con- 
trary. He had anticipated the latter’s whispered 
request for a conveyance, too fully aw^are of the 
danger, and the difficulty of disposing of his pris- 
oner, and the unenviable position in wdiich he 
himself was placed. The embarrassment of her 
present position w^as even more alarming to Agnes, 


AGNES GOODMAID. 


47 


but from a different standpoint; she could not 
think of meeting the doctor again tonight, expla- 
nations would be too awkward. It was happiness 
enough to know where to look for him, and he must 
not learn her secret in her present plight. When 
the last sound of the carriage wheels died away in 
the distance the doctor found a large roll of bills 
left on his table by his escaped burglar prisoner. 

In the safe embrace of Mrs. Friend, Agnes 
calmly received the shocking news of the old 
man’s demise a few days later, just as the law 
was getting after him for some very unsavory 
transactions. The good old nurse feels very con- 
trite for having frightened the old man ; it was 
very wicked, she would not have done it, if she 
had expected he was to leave them so soon. She 
was out of health and more than usually affected 
by the news of his death, but Dr. Hardup mil 
soon have her out again. She thinks he is the 
nicest man she has ever met, though he has never 
told her of the part he played at the fire. 

His frequent visits have alarmed her of late, 
she dreads a large bill, and will surely speak to 
him. Agnes has tried to laugh her out of it, and 
at last told her the secret of his frequent ^dsits, 
and she is glad that the dear child is to be so 
happy; though it is dreadful that doctors are 
never entirely without selfishness. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAIR^ED. 


CHAPTER I. 

It was not an every day occurrence that men 
entrusted their lives to the dangerous expedient 
to get over the country on the brake of a freight 
car, and the individual discovered in this perilous 
locality on a western train, was promptly ordered 
off his dangerous perch in spite of his pleadings 
with the conductor. He was going westward, not 
(taring whither, or how far, as long as he could 
steal his ride ; hut as he surveyed the little village 
desperation seized him, and he renewed his efforts, 
begging to be carried to a place “ commensurate 
with his ambition.” The expression called forth 
a shout of laughter from the train men and vil- 
lagers, ambition in a man of his appearance was 
the last suspected virtue ; they felt inclined to be 
lenient, for he was a fluent talker, but the con- 
ductor knew^ his duty. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


49 


“ We cannot do it, sir, it is against the rules,’’ 
replied the conductor quietly. 

“ Eules, sir, throw away your rules. Are you 
not aware, sir, that it is for rules and laws sin is 
in the world ? In my next reincarnation I may 
be a railroad president, or manager of a flying 
machine company, then I shall make it the rule 
that every poor man on the road shall have a lift, 
and you may be going west, sir, and be glad that 
I have abolished the “ rules,” wliich now tlu:eaten 
to incommode and compel me to tramp disgrace- 
fully out of tliis village. Yes, sir, not a theosoph- 
ist ever expects to return by “ rules,” or freight 
train, to a place like this ; no follower of “ gentle ” 
Buddha ever had such an opportunity for esoteric 
reflections as I had hanging on for my life, and 
more of it is denied me, because of the “ rules.” 

His pompous air and language contrasted 
strangely with liis shabby appearance, and wait- 
ing for a train to pass, the men and villagers 
formed a curious, wondering audience around him, 
eager to hear what he had to say. In better attire, 
his grip by his side, none would have suspected 
his sanity, or only eccentricity ; but his words 
attracted attention, Yind conjectures were freely 
made why his talents were so unproductive of a 
better appearance. It was nothing new that 
people wondred at talents a-begging — but the 


50 


A MYSTERY EXI’LAIKED. 


stranger continued : “ F or rules, sir, man is to- 

day no longer in paradise. God created man 
good, and there was no sin in the world ; it is the 
excessive enjoyment of good that leads to evil. 
The robber commits the crime in the excessive 
indulgence of his utopian principles to share an- 
otheFs property.” 

“ You are misinformed, sir,” he corrected an 
objector, “ there was no sin in the world from the 
Ijcginning. There was no breaking of laws till 
liive picked the apple, no murder till Cain slew 
Al)el, no drunkenness till Noah indulged in too 
much wine. God made man good, what need of 
giving him laws to break ? Laws to embarrass 
him? ” 

“After the creation of the universe and the 
heavenly host. Deity created the earth, and as 
man came in sight there was one who was filled 
with jealousy and envy, and he was determined 
also to take a hand in it ; but Deity liked not his 
forwardness and warned him and said : ^ Abstain 
thou from thy purpose, for only evil can come by 
thy hand, or forever be banished from heaven!’ 
But he heeded not the warning, for he said, let us 
go upon the earth and rule it, and make man to 
serve us. And all his followers rejoiced thereat 
and encouraged him to rebel against the will of 
heaven ; and he was the more determined to per- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


51 


sist in his purpose to rule the earth. And there 
was a great crash, and flashes of lightning, as he 
hurled through space amid howling and gnashing. 
Thus was rebellion and sin cast out of heaven, 
for all tilings were created good and Beelzebub 
could not abide it. Even man being good was to 
him an abomination; but he could not create 
man to his own liking and was sorely troubled.” 

Here the train moved on and to the disappoint- 
ment of the villagers none of the train men saw 
the shabby passenger get on his perch ; but when 
discovered later he was requested to finish his 
story in the caboose of the train, which he grate- 
fully accepted. 

Installed in comfortable quarters and after a 
few puffs from a stump of an old pipe, he con- 
tinued : It was a terrible fall, and for a time the 
devil was very dejected, he had what the doctors 
call nervous prostration, but after a while he sent 
his head imp out for news. And when the latter 
returned he said : Master, there is no news, nor 
have I found any man, or any way to get out of 
this body, or off this eaidh. And Mephistopheles 
was furious ; to be on tliis eaidh was bad, to be 
here alone was intolerable. And again he ordered 
his head imp to go east and go west and make 
sure there was no opening at the poles, where the 
people might be in hiding. 


52 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


“ And when Mepbito, the head imp, returned, 
he said: ‘I met a man who seemed to guess - 
that is the word he used— what I wanted, and he 
said he could help you, making only one condi- 
tion, which I knew you would not consider.’ 

“ ‘ What was that condition, Mephito ? ’ 

“ ‘It was that- you abandon your ambition to 
create man,’ replied the imp timidly taking a 
step towards the door. 

“ ‘ Didst throttle him ? ’ thundered Beelzebub 
furiously at Mephito. 

‘“Ah, no indeed, he had more cunning in the 
tip of his nose than all the creatures of thy 
creation.’ 

“‘This is another triumph over me,’ moaned 
Beelzebub. ‘ Thus shall I turn ashen and sallow, 
green and yellow, with envy.’ Then Mephisto- 
pheles relapsed in hopeless silence, much grieved 
and bowed down. And the head imp was moved 
in sympathy of green rage for his master, and 
ventured to suggest there was still a hope, as long 
as the plan of the lawyer, that is what he called 
himself, had not been tested. Should he not see 
him again?’ 

“ ‘ Bid him hither, that I may question him, 
though I do not like to be beholden to a man, 
perchance I may learn his secret without his 
knowing, or having opportunity for demanding an 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


53 


exhorbitant fee for inadequate services/ said Satan 
not much encouraged by tbe prospect of tbe en- 
counter with an equal. 

“And Mepbity bied bim tbence, but soon 
returned, and already from afar Mepbistopbeles 
l^erceived be bad unwelcome news and bade him 
speak. And tbe servant trembled, for tbe lawyer 
declined : ‘Not yet awbile,’ be bad sneeringly 
answered, ‘ will I follow your summons, nor can 
I be your advocate before tbe Lord, not knowing 
my standing at Court. I receive my clients here, 
if Satan desires my counsel.’ ‘ More be did not 
vouchsafe, but — ’ 

“ ‘ But — ! ’ thundered tbe devil at bim, and 
tbe bead imp trembled at bis wrath, knowing bow 
much store be set by bis pet folly to do the- things 
wliicb were forbidden. 

“ ‘ His condition of assistance is tbe abjuring 
of tbe making of man,’ tbe imp faltered to say. 

“ Then Satan was wroth and went out in search 
of tbe lawyer to vent bis spite, and they soon 
arrived at bis residence. Now this man was from 
Chicago and be was not abashed at tbe presence 
of tbe devil, seeing which Beelzebub said meekly : 
‘ Tby renown is great, yet am I conquered ; lest 
I make man I cannot rule liim, for be is good 
and without evil.’ 

“And tbe lawyer said : ‘Vanity is tbe mothei 


64 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


of all discontent, abandon thy ambitious desire to 
imitate Deity.’ And the devil was disgusted with 
this advice, and turned away, but the lawyer called 
after him ; ‘ AVouldst have the earth and give 

nothing for it ? Can good dwell with evil and 
he uncorrupted ? ’ 

“ ‘ And the devil heaved a purple sigh and 
blushed crimson, for volumes spoken in the law- 
yer’s words had a new meaning to him, and when 
he recovered from his surprise he was ashamed 
to he outwitted by this man ; he offered him a 
fee, whereat his imps were greatly surprised, know- 
ing his meanness. The lawyer, however, sneer- 
ingly declined, saying : ‘ I served hut my own 

interests.’ 

“ • How so ? ’ demanded Satan. 

“ ‘ I shall either defend man, or convict him.’ 

“ ‘ And if thou defendst him ? ’ 

“ ‘He will sin again.’ 

“ ‘ Ah — ! ’ said the devil in great surprise, and 
this man’s ideas began to interest him ; ‘ hut if 
thou shouldst convict him ? ’ 

“‘Then our governor will pardon him to get 
his vote at the next election.’ 

“ Tliis was too much for Satan, and he was on 
the point of an outburst of rage, but his head imp 
gave him a punch in the ribs and he asked 
suavely, when his benefit would come in. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


55 


“ ‘ After the governor the devil,” said the 
other sarcastically, and the interview 'was termin- 
ated. The devil did not know how to interpret 
that, but satisfied that the best interests were 
served by the meeting, as politicians say, he was 
willing to wait. 

‘‘ On further reflection he felt depressed. ‘ To 
think,’ he muttered to himself after a long silence, 
‘ that this is only a man,’ and he blushed purple ; 
‘ or is he another rebel, or a spy, to whom I have 
exposed my plans ? ’ He almost staggered under 
the weight of the suspicion of want of discretion. 

Ethically considered the problem of raising man 
for the service of the devil was indeed perplexing, 
and he was uncertain how to gain any power over 
him ; for, said he : ‘ there are no laws how can 
man trespass them ? ’ Then there was a crash, 
and as he suddenly stopped he changed to all the 
colors of the rainbow, winding up with a hideous 
green, and liis imps could hear the crackling and 
crepitation of his thoughts ; blue sparks shot forth 
in every direction, and colored wreaths of smoke 
circled about his head. Expecting this outburst of 
joy as usual to descend on him, Mephito fled in 
fright, and thus it happened that on his way he fell 
in with a jew leading a little goat by a whisk of 
straw, of which every now and then she ate off a 
piece, making it that much shorter ; he could no 


56 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


longer lead her by it, for she had become a very 
unwiUing traveler, requiring much pulling. He 
was therefore quite willing to sell it. ‘ Going from 
home, sir, mit der goat ? ’ was ]\Iephitos’ friendly 
greetmg, who was still agitated from his late 
experience. 

“ ‘ For sale, what gives 3’ou for mine Sherman 
goat ? ’ said the Israelite eager for a bargain. 

“ Evading the question of ownersliip was suspic- 
ious, and Mephito persisted to know how he came 
in possession of it. ‘ You did not buy the goat, 
nor raise it, you stole it ! ’ 

“ ‘ I loaned money on it and the goat was mine.’ 

“ It was clear to Mephito, if the jew could take 
the goat on this pretext, he might become the 
j)ossessor of both. He struck a bargain, the ani- 
mal was to be delivered on Hades Island, whither 
he directed him to proceed, keeping an eye on his 
movements that lie might not loose his prey. It 
was a great stroke of policy, and a secret ambi- 
tion to please his master was gratified. 

“ By and by the devil’s fire works subsided from 
sheer exhaustion, but the question “how good 
could come of evil ” was no nearer its solution. 
The lawyer’s remarks haunted liim: ‘man is 
good ’ what would he be if he was not good ? He 
mused on the office of a lawyer, and of what use 
is the governor except to undo the other’s work ? 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


67 


‘Man has no laws, why then lawyers?’ This 
suddenly started a new idea — he must study man 
at his labor and play. Only then he was certain 
of final success. He was very melancholy and 
strayed whither his steps led him, and not accus- 
tomed to the business of collecting items, probably 
much escaped his notice till angry w'ords, espec- 
ially his own name, fell on his ears. “ Go to ” 

said one to another, suggesting a familiar resort 
in the old version, the more forcibly to express 
his meaning. The devil was surprised and list- 
ened. How had man learned all this ? It was 
at the stockyards, where they shed much innocent 
blood, and he wondered at their cruelty. He 
pulled their ears, each thinking the other did it, 
and it was amusing and an instructive lesson in 
human passions. He had never heard so much 
of the real meaning of hades. 

“Alarmed lest he be held* as a witness in a 
police court he hurried away, but promised him- 
self an early return to repeat his experiments. 
He made a note of it, and was now fully deter- 
mined to canvass the neighborhood for proofs to 
further his wicked designs. 

“On his tours of investigation he w'ent also 
through Wall street and there fully matured his 
plans, and his melancholy changed to joyful deceit 
the more he learned of the ways of man. 


58 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


‘ I know I am conquered,’ he said, meeting 
Deity, ‘ I cannot create man, and yet am jealous, 
and wish liim to serve me, and w^oman, and little 
children too, for they are pretty and useful play- 
things, and come handy when they are naughty 
to torment old bachelors with their noise.’ 

“ And Deity heeded not the devil’s smooth 
words, nor was rejoiced at his confession of weak- 
ness and wickedness ; but the devil was cunning 
and full of deceit, for he did not like the freedom, 
and the happiness of man, and his innocence. 
And again he accosted Deity, saying: ‘I am 
aware that I am wholly unwoidhy of favor before 
Thee, and though I cannot rule man because of 
his ^vays being different from mine, but is it right 
that he should walk the earth by the side of evil 
without knowing it, or ^vithout laws to prevent his 
corruption ? ’ 

“ And his deceit seemed not apparent, for his 
favor was granted. And all his imps rejoiced, 
and twitched at his coat tails, for they had discov- 
ered his object. The head imp who did the flog- 
ging of the others, had even discovered a manu- 
script in his rear pocket laying plans to entrap an 
editor of a Chicago daily ; he gave the others the 
sign — having lost speech at the great combat of 
good with evil — and there was great rejoicing at 
las discovery. Yes, in the VTetchedness, in tlio 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


59 


utter destruction of man, they expected to reap a 
rich harvest of wicked delight. 

“ And this is what the prince of sin had con- 
cocted. Sore* vexed at his inability to create man, 
for whom he thirsted like a poor soul in sheol, 
a foreigner, having no interest on earth except 
to rule it, by fiat or otherwise, and envious at 
man’s goodness, and happiness, he sought the 
opportunity to enslave him. Said he: ‘There 
must be a way to get possession of liim, and if 
not, I will create it. Let Deity give man law's, 
and with liberty he will break them, one by one. 
It will then be my triumph.’ 

“ And he spoke again meeting Deity and said : 
‘ Thy creation is beautiful and good, it would be 
a great pity if man should go astray, and that he 
may not fall in the hands of my servants he must 
be governed with wisdom, and must be taught to 
walk in uprightness and goodness, and he must 
also know good from evil. Why has he no laws 
for liis govermnent, and a wise governor wiio 
understands the w'ants of the people ? ’ 

“ And Deity saw' that law's would be good, and 
that man would profit by obeying them, and would 
escape the snares of the evil, and merit the 
rew'ards of heaven. 

“ Thus the first law' Deity made was : ‘ Thou 
shalt have no gods, nor shall money be thy god.’ 


f)0 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


“ And the devil smiled and was elated, and he 
praised the first commandment ; and all his imps 
were overjoyed, for they also had lately been in 
'Wall street, and at the free silver convention, and 
expected much from the hot words of pitch forks 
and state militia. 

“ Again the devil bitterly complained of the 
ignorance of man to discern right from wrong, 
saying : ‘ Was I not thrust out in the world, and 
must I now be hampered by thy creatures endowed 
with speech yet know not how to govern their 
tongue. 

“ And Deity said : ‘ Thou shalt not swear, nor 
use bad words. Sheol shalt thou not mention, 
nor its iTiler.’ 

“ And the prince of evil was dissatisfied, for he 
did not expect much from the second command- 
ment. Moreover, he thought Deity was somewhat 
diplomatic. He was very dejected at his failure 
to obtain more stringent rules, and as he sat down 
brooding over his poor success he heard a great 
noise and turmoil, and did not know what it was. 

“ ‘ As if all let loose, he mused — ^he had 

not yet become accustomed to his station — or was 
it the Chicago board of trade ? Yet I am within 
the realms of hades, where silence is more terrible 
than the hallelujahs of the saints.’ He listened. 
‘ Unearthly sounds of an animal in distress,’ he 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 6l 

concluded. It gave him the rigors of an ague 
fit and he hurried away. 

“ Though within sight of liis abode the noise 
increased the nearer he approached. Slyly peak- 
ing through the blinds he witnessed a scene that 
raised. his hair on end, and his breathing became 
labored. In the midst of a boisterous throng, in 
his spacious reception room, sat a being not easy 
to classify, as human or undefinable species. All 
his imps were dancing around it, and bowing at 
every turn before it. Each carried a knout, the 
lashes having fish hooks secured to the ends. At 
a signal by the head imp, after their bows the 
blows fell in succession around the circle upon 
their object of torture, tearing great shreds of 
flesh from liis body. His contortions and howls, 
mingled with the bleating of a goat tied to a 
string in his hands, was the enjoyment of liis 
infernal tormentors, which was called trial by 
jury. A court martial was to follow it. His 
accuser, a widow and five children, stood at the 
door, lamenting the loss of their last solace, yet 
begging for his life. 

“ It is easy to guess that the jew whom Mephito 
had enticed hither, was reaping the harvest of his 
sowing. For the instruction of French savants 
who occupied reserved seats, and others, inter- 
ested in the occult sciences, he was hypnotized 


02 


A MYSTIORY EXPIiAlKED. 


and liis torments seemed real ; ))\it the audience 
were much impressed with the progress of science. 
At each bowing of the imps a new scene from the 
life of the culprit appeared, and w'as greeted with 
blows of tlie ia.shes. 

“ The pitfalls in which the Jew entrapped his vic- 
tims were, money lent, then taking advantage 
of calamities overtaking them to urge liis demands. 
From a poor man he had taken a cow for being 
an hour late paying the interest, another lost his 
land on account of the drought. And again the 
blows fell down on the unsightly creature, and his 
howls commingled with the demoniac laughter of 
his tormentors, wliicli reechoed throughout the 
place of endless torment of the wicked. He 
changed color with each round of blows, and the 
perspiration stood in fiery beats all over him, yet 
this high court of evil w^as not satisfied, more 
testimony was produced. Scenes from Wall 
street, where he had conducted a money lending 
business, bankrupting with the assets secreted, 
came up. All this was enacted for refusing to 
make a confession of having stolen the goat, what 
the punishment would be for the deed itself none 
could tell. 

“ Tired longer to be a witness of the scenes of 
his own wicked pastimes, Satan interrupted the 
revellers by his entrance, and all hied to their 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


63 


places, and the jew took courage and addressed 
the prince of darkness, complaining of the ill 
treatment he had received. Hearing liis voice 
satan was angered, for recognizing a man, he 
thought Deity sent this creature to taunt liim, and 
to express contempt, he being the homeliest man 
on eaidh. Said Beelzebub, ‘If man is the hand- 
somest, he also is the most deformed of God’s 
creatures, to wliicli he and the saloon keeper on 
his way liither amply testify.’ 

“ ‘ Perplexed by the phenomenon before liim, 
for his devilship had not yet learned that it was 
the distortion of sin caused the man’s loathsome 
appearance, he questioned him concerning his 
crimes, and why he had robbed the poor people 
in Germany ? To which the jew replied that he 
could not rob the rich, and that it was the law in 
Germany, and the Christians made the law. 

“ ‘ To rob the people ? ’ Said Satan in astonish- 
ment distrustful of his understanding. 

“ ‘ To take all they have, if they cannot pay,’ 
replied the jew. He also said a smart Yankee in 
Wall street had defrauded him of all liis property. 

“This was hopeful news for satan, for he 
reflected, if a Yankee can get the better of a jew, 
I want him as chief manager of my household ; 
for how could I trust this man with my servants, 
my silver, and gold ? He would corrupt the first 


64 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


and use the other for speculation on board of 
’change, or in politics, usurp my office. The jew 
left him not long to reflections, by way of self 
defense he related how a partner had robbed liim 
and fled to Germany where he could not follow 
him, and a doctor, a metaphysician, versed in the 
occult, had robbed him of the rest, and his wife 
and cliildren. He charged one hundred dollars to 
feel his pulse, and five hundred to look at his 
tongue. He had not a nickel left, nor a friend 
to lend him any for a glass of lemonade to quench 
his great thirst. 

“ Just then the saloon keeper staggered in, find- 
ing no other door open, and any one might have 
known what his business was by his swearing and 
calling so lustily for drinks. The devil now per- 
ceived the wisdom of the last commandment and 
ordered his servants to give the new comer the 
occult cup. The circle formed around him and 
he drank greedily of the beverage which turned to 
burning flame, and he was in great agony and 
vomitted flame, but still called for more of the 
water with increasing thirst. And the imps were 
delighted with their success in the occult science 
which a noble lady had hut lately introduced from 
India, where she had met many mahatmas and 
masters of the science. 

“Stimulated by these successes to increased 


A :\rysTERY explained. 


65 


activity, Satan, filled with the ambition of the 
amateur, again set out to collect new evidenee and 
pomters. He saw an old man who had an unruly 
hoy across his knees, and there was a pretext for 
a law the latter wnuld n’t keep when grown up. 
He also saw a good excuse for restraint, on learn- 
ing the butchers had killed an innocent man wdio 
foolishly tried to be a peace maker. 

“ Preoccupied by reflections on the last incident 
he was not aware how near he 'was to a lady’s 
skirts blown by the wind in front of his feet, he 
stumbled, and politely begged her pardon. ‘ Dear 
me,’ she simpered, looking up with a bewitch- 
ing smile — he was so tall and handsome — ‘ what 
an entanglement.’ Visibly affected by that glance 
he turned several colors in the face, and could 
not conceal the great interest he took in her, as he 
walked by her side, conversing pleasantly about 
the weather and high winds. Of lively tempera- 
ment she soon let him know that she was the relict 
of six living husbands; ‘so mean,’ she said, ‘the 
devil could n’t live with them.’ The seventh, an 
old sea captain, twice her own age, had promised 
her great wealth, but died poor. She had about 
concluded marriage was a failure, adding archly in 
reply to his suggestion of a prophetic meaning 
in their meeting, she might change her mind, 
and blushing becomingly, cast her eyes to the 


60 


A ]\IYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


ground — ‘ heaven help me ! ’ she exclaimed, turned 
ghastly pale and staggered away, stammering 
something about going to rehearsal. 

“ Satan was vexed, but the curse of sin was upon 
him and he could not conceal his identity. He 
dropped on the nearest curb stone, liis knees 
shaking with agitation, what entry was he to make 
in his note book for this woman? The items 
already jotted domi — the man killed was the fifth 
— made this the sixth, the figure six and seven 
little daggers, to mark the particulars, were placed 
against her. 

“ ‘ Kehearsal,' he said with a cynical sneer. 
He knew she was lying, but lying to the devil did 
not seem to her a very heinous offence. She 
went straight to consult a high priestess of renown 
for the discovery of a new way to heaven — getting 
“science through her,” to head off further evil 
‘ entanglements.’ 

“ But the devil still counted on her notwith- 
standing these extraordinary measures to cheat 
him out of his just dues. Devil against devil, it 
would be interesting to know the outcome of the 
duel, but I have no money to bet, — ^the narrator 
seemed to have some one in mind — then he con- 
tinued : The devil was much concerned about 

the appearance of the actress in his omi house ; 
for there were many in his retinue who might fall 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


67 


an easy prey to her wiles. The jew and the 
actress was an incubus on his mind, which 
caused him again to wish for the former’s partner. 
He would go to Canada, where the smartest of 
them rendezvous and secure one. 

“ “ Simulating disinterestedness for better effect 
— ^he felt some trepidation concerning the outcome 
of his mission — ^he was about to move on, but 
a great cry of men attracted him, and was per- 
haps the cause of a change in his future condi- 
tion. The crowd of men was coming his way, and 
proved to be strikers chasing a man fleeing for 
his life. ‘ This is propitious, right to hand,’ said 
the devil gleefully. The fleeing man had reduced 
the pay of his laborers to make up for money 
spent on the actress’ tuition, and where, but hades 
was he destined to go? ‘Jump on my ass,’ 
shouted satan, and the unwary man sped away 
Mith the speed of the wind. What an opportunity 
for students of the occult w^as here afforded ! The 
man thought of an ass and left his pursuers far in 
the rear, but the devil stepped boldly among them 
declaring himself a walking delegate. Of course, 
he upheld the laborer’s rights to rebel — being 
himself the archrebel — and to bring the bloated 
capitalists to terms. 

“ He was secretly pleased to have hit on this 
shrewd expedient in the face of the fact that many 


68 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


had eaten their last meal. They went away fully 
satisfied with the wisdom of his office. Alas, his 
joys were brief. There were several who were 
only attracted by the crowd, having no further 
interest in then* dis^Dutes, and one of these, linger- 
ing with others, touched Satan on the arm with 
the question, where he had served time learning 
the carpenter trade ? The question was so unex- 
pected, so confusing, but the climax was the meet- 
ing of those eyes, familiar and reproachful. If 
but that deed was undone. Before he recovered 
sufficiently to cover one lie with another, the ques- 
tioner had disappeared, leaving Satan standing in 
confusion, and now the full force of consequences 
not perceptible before, became visible as burning 
fire. The meeting had a very depressing effect, 
and the suspicion of nonunionist spies was not 
reassuring. ‘ What of my laws,’ he soliloquized, 
‘ if they report before I get in my complaints '? ’ 
Gathering up his note book and pencil— he was a 
short hander — he sped away as if fleeing from an 
enemy. A meeting of an old friend, was oppor- 
tune, both sailing in the same canoe, and the law- 
yer’s counsel in this 'emergency was only the 
straw by which the condemned criminal might 
escape. ‘ Compromise,’ was the lawyer’s saga- 
cious advice, ‘ and don’t lose all by grasping for 
more.’ 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


69 


“ There was no time to be wasted in arguments, 
and the devil was not without shrewdness ; he was 
wary being uneasy of conscience, dreading to 
meet his accusers, and his judge, his heart was 
in liis mouth the nearer he approached liis objec- 
tive destiny. To his surprise he was graciously 
received, and his observations listened to with 
deference. Not a liitch, or suspicion regarding 
his apprenticeship, or authority to order strikes. 
He was in great contentment, was sure his most 
sanguine expectations would be realized, when to 
his consternation the enemy appeared, whom he 
had so recently met. He carried in one hand a 
tablet which he perused with interest, and in the 
other the devils own open note book. The former 
contained the laws for the government of man, 
corresponding in substance with satan’s observa- 
tions and suggestions. The latter did not read 
them in detail, his attention was arrested by a 
line on the fly leaf of the note book. It sealed 
his doom ; he had no more interest in laws for 
man, was almost sorry he set the ball in motion. 

“ The German people are right, though they 
have not the details of the deviTs banishment to 
space, where his “ wild chase ” is the terror of 
belated pedestrians not very steady on their feet, 
on whom the midnight hour stole in unawares. 
Women put babies asleep with their recitals, and 


70 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


threats, too, of the “ Wilde Jagd,” and “ der wilde 
Jaeger ; ” and people pull the heaviest feather beds 
over their heads when adepts in occultism, called 
“ Die schwarze Kunst,” announce the approach 
of the panting stag, its nostrils distended, and 
the blood red tongue protruding from its open 
mouth, a pity to behold, followed by the noisy cry 
of the silver tongued hounds, and the bugle blasts 
of wildest haloohs of discord ; for it is the doom 
of the “ Wilde Jagd ” that every sound is out of 
tune with the other. The headless riders on head- 
less chargers are said to be the most terrible of 
all, as they dash in countless numbers after myr- 
iads of hounds. 

“ Not that the wild hunters are headless, but 
only invisible, except to adepts in the “ Schwarze 
Kunst,” and many are beautiful of features, for 
they are those who on earth served the devil. 0 
how terrible ! But how much better than if he 
was on earth plying his trade of a counterfeit 
walking delegate ; and who would not say a prayer 
for the poor hunted soul, the last to fall a prey 
to liis snares, transmogrified into a dear? Yes, 
and pray till the hunt has passed, or the stroke 
of one from the old church tower has solemnly 
proclaimed peace on earth, and hushed the tumult, 
given the poor soul rest for another day, perhaps 
to be hunted again in some other locality, wher- 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


71 . 


ever adepts are sufficiently advanced in the occult * 
science to know the signs of its approach.’’ 

“ ‘ What became of the lawyer,’ asked a young 
man who was attending high school preparatory 
to reading law. The conductor was relating the 
story of the tramp to an eager crowd at the depot, 
his train as usual was waiting for the passenger 
to pass. 

“ ‘ Oh, he ? After beating about for a while to 
find his proper level in society he knocked at sheol 
one day, but being recognized he was turned 
away with the sneering advice ‘ after the gover- 
nor.’ He took the hint, but election being near at 
hand he was fortunately snowed under on — No- 
vember 18 — 


72 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


CHAPTEE 11. 

After months of fatiguing travel in search of 
health, but nowhere finding the exact locality 
where climate and scenery would contribute their 
share of restorative virtue, two weary travelers 
landed in Blight on the train for which the con- 
ductor was waiting, as he related the tramp’s story 
to an eager crowd of depot loungers. It was an 
unusual occurrence to see any one stop at this 
station, but invalids selecting this as a health 
resold eclipsed all the expectations of the crowd. 

Blight was a "way western town of a dozen 
small stores, the best a two story brick, a two 
story tavern called hotel, two churches or meeting 
houses, and the requisite number of cottages to 
shelter five or six hundred people ; black smith, 
wagon, and paint shops, and an air motor, in 
pre railroad times a windmill, to pump the water 
at a shanty depot, completed the picture. It was 
a town where only an occasional drummer stops 
over a train, or a night, ever after to swear at its 
duhiess, and maliciously to recommend it to his 
competitors. It was located on a level prairie 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. Y3 

watering a creek on its oiitkirts, meandering 
through rushes and willows ; but in the heat of 
summer the numerous bullfrogs have to dig for 
the lubricant of their resonant throats. It is dry 
until the prairies- again pour in the rains of fall 
and winter ; cat tails flourish in its bed and along 
the banks, or they are stunted as the season is 
w'et or dry. In contradistinction of the town peo- 
ple, the settlers on the prairies are the country 
people and farming is their exclusive occupation. 

The arrival of the strange ladies created a sen- 
sation, there were many conjectures, where they 
were from, and whom they would visit. Of course, 
they were expected to inquire for somebody, or 
something to give a clue to their identity, as every 
body was acquainted with every body’s friends 
and probable visitors. Not so; they surprised 
the assemblage of loafers by not asking an anxious 
question, nor the way to a hotel, as if they had 
all their lives slept out of doors, although it was 
the time of day when the robin in the tree tops 
anxiously calls for his mate, and flies for cover 
for the night ; nor cared they for their baggage, 
for neither carried bundle or parcel in their hands. 
As they walked slowly away from the depot it was 
difficult to tell from appearances, which of the 
two was the feebler ; the elder, veiled and dressed 
in black, appeared not very strong and active, yet 


74 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


the younger leaned heavily on her arm, that, as 
one lank westerner put it : “ Commin’ to die 
here,” was a suggestive estimate of their condition, 
which proved, however, not to be a correct one. 
The hotel, the Bellman House, was their destina- 
tion, whither a travelling companion, an active 
young man conveyed their baggage. 

They had not been counted many weeks among 
the residents of the little village, when the younger 
of a sociable disposition, had sufficiently recovered 
to take several girl pupils in the higher branches 
of learning, music and painting, and it seemed 
not in the least to interfere with her improve- 
ment. It gave her pleasure to employ her spare 
time, feeling charitably disposed towards those 
who struggled for an education under adverse 
conditions, and was a school for herself as well. 
She accepted no remuneration and made the diffi- 
dent feel as if she was in their debt for the oppor- 
tunity of teaching them. What wonder everybody 
was pleased, and pupils were numerous, and invi- 
tations without stint were extended, they soon 
had a circle of acquaintances around them which 
made their stay pleasant. 

Some cast aspersion. Was it for amusement, 
or a bill later on ? Or to divert her from sorrow- 
ful reflections of the past, or fears of the future ; 
for it was evident that grief had left its impress 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. <5 

in her features ; or was it merely to break the 
monotonous routine of 

After breakfast a breath of fresh am, 

For dinner a rose in the hair, 

And after tea a walk — where ? 

To sleep or toss through the night ; 

For that was the limit in Blight ? 

Soon the whole village was full of talk of the 
ladies at the hotel. The younger was admired 
for her strange, fascinating beauty, and the elder 
for her kindness of heart, and motherly devotion 
to her daughter. All the young men of the place, 
consisting of half a dozen clerks, and two lawyers, 
none overstocked \\ith polish or education, but 
full of the masculine weakness at sight of a pretty 
woman — see and be conquered- laid plans to 
make Adelaid’s acquaintance, and vied with each 
other in gossiping about her. The bachelor grocer 
received no consideration, being probably too 
philosophic, or as some said, too phlegmatic to 
consider woman a very great necessity for the 
comfort of man, or the future inhabitation of this 
terestrial sphere ; for all that, he was the first man 
who had the advantage of a personal introduction, 
losing his head completely, as coming around a 
sharp corner in a great huny he almost ran over 
the ladies. A little cry escaped one of them, he 
could not tell which, and the elder quickly grasped 


76 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


Adelaid’s arm. He was frightened as much, and 
in great confusion stammered an awkward apol- 
ogy. Mr. Harter was not a boarder at the tavern, 
and had never even seen them at a distance, to 
be aware that the woman so much an object of 
admiration had red hair ; and her eyes might be 
any color, although he looked her square in the 
face, but having all tliis from hearsay, he felt 
instinctively they were the city ladies. He was 
greatly annoyed at his awkward haste, it put him 
in bad humor the more he dwelled on it, wliich 
could not be dispelled. Abnormal conditions of 
the nerves render even trifles annoying, and we 
search in vain why we care, he cared only so far 
as rather to have made his introduction as a 
polished gentleman doing business there, than as 
a plow boy just in from the prairie. He concealed 
a suspicion of their identity, his probable object 
was to offer a more graceful apology; for he 
was not gossipy, or seizing a good opportunity for 
news gathering. Eoni, whose acquaintance he had 
already made, was his polite listener, but he was 
not communicative, or further interested than to 
say on leaving the store : “ Most likely the inci- 
dent is already forgotten.” 

Eoni was the young man who attended to the 
ladies’ baggage when they arrived, and stopping 
at the hotel, he did occasional errands for them at 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


77 


the stores. He hunted and took an occasional 
fishing trip to a distant pond, here called lake, 
and seemed to enjoy his vacation — “ had inherited 
some money from a relative and wanted to rest a 
spell. Some easy, even if not very remunerative, 
or steady employment would be acceptable, to 
reduce his expenses.’' He was industrious, and 
enjoyed a social chat, frequently assisted the girls 
at their labors, though that fact may not indicate 
industry. There is so much that a pretty girl face 
is capable of inciting in men, the chance of socia- 
bility may be the strongest incentive. Girls in 
the country oftener work out from choice than 
necessity, by which they are not losing their 
respectability. A rich man performing an onor- 
ous task has the admiration of all his neighbors for 
his independence and democratic spirit, they form 
an audience around him to see how he does it, 
though all know that his method cannot differ from 
others. A poor man doing the same has at best 
but their sympathy as they pass by. Eoni had 
made friends with the grocer on the corner, who 
also' sold drugs, pills, essences, nuts and candies, 
for which the ladies were frequent customers. 
Waiting on himself when the grocer was busy, 
assisting, or remaining in the store, wdien he was 
called out, Eoni unconsciously installed himself 
as his clerk. He was good looking, and polished. 


78 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


not quite up to tailor’s fashion plates, but manly in 
appearance and physique, and his clothes were of 
an eastern cut ; the girl customers increased, for 
they liked his lively chats, so did the grocer. 

Eoni was not of Irish parentage, as the sound 
of his much abbreviated name would indicate, 
which imputation he hotly resented. He claimed 
to be a native American, the difference being a 
mistake of a few days only in his mother’s reck- 
oning of the date of the steamers’ sailing — he was 
horn the hawser still holding him to foreign shores. 
Hieronimus Pfropfenzieher — I may as well tell 
you his name, for you never would have guessed 
it —made every body his friend, and soon was as 
much talked about as the ladies with whom he 
arrived. 

Much as was the speculation and inquisitive 
surmising regarding the two lady strangers they 
had at last to be set down as belonging to a 
class of migratory birds who have actually no 
home save where they eat and sleep : born some- 
where during their parental migrations, locality 
being the accident, which leaves no childhood’s 
longings for home, or love for a fatherland, they 
had jolted along, as so many Americans do, as 
content, or better, as restless, in one place as in 
another. They paid their bills regularly receiving 
remittances through a New York house, which 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


79 


was evidence that they were above laying bare 
their grief and disappointments to the inspection 
of strangers. 

How otherwise than as a loss and consequent 
grief could a rural community interpret the wear- 
ing of mourning by the elder, and the sad, pale face 
of the younger? But the latter was recovering 
in spirits and health and seemed to become inter- 
ested ill the doings of the village. She was very 
musical. How beautifully she could play the 
pieces in her pupil’s instruction books, with never 
a hitch, or beginning over again, not a note that 
was out of reach, too long, or out of place, or 
not in time, as so often happened to the village 
girls who played the melodeon — that at the hotel 
was the only piano in Blight. She declined to 
sing in church, but volunteered to instruct the 
choir that they could do their own singing better ; 
and she spared neither leader, nor members, root- 
ing out some who could not sing in tune. She 
required all to practice the scales at their homes, 
and pay particular attention to breathing, and 
speaking of the words. The breathing was a stun- 
ner, as if they could breath differently than taught 
by nature’s first bawl ! But they began to improve 
in a short time, all saw the difference, and the 
attendance was larger, which also might be attrib- 
utable to the fashionably dressed city ladies who 


80 


A mystp:ry explained. 


attended the meetings, and every body wanted to 
get a glimpse of them. It was an awakening for 
the little country village in more sense than one, 
long remembered after their departure for their 
eastern home. The ladies of Blight put on their 
very best, and the men began to sliine their boots, 
and the hair received an extra touch ; not to be 
outdone the ladies appeared with new bonnets, or 
rejuvenated headgear, new bows, new ribbons, the 
stores were ransacked for novelties — ^trade revived. 
The old deacon shook liis head disapprovingly, 
but the minister was glad there was a new interest 
aroused, a fuU house to listen to him. 

There was a prospective fair to he held for 
the benefit of the church, and there was much 
hoping and wishing Miss Adelaid could be induced 
to lend a helping hand, at least ideas ; it would 
be so nice to get up something new, more citified, 
but who would broach the subject ? It was really 
presumptuous to approach total strangers for such 
a sacrifice. Bake, brew, and stew ; for what else 
is there in a rural church fair hut hard work for 
the ladies, often at the expense of health, for a 
few dollars acquired at greater outlay. They 
could not be expected to help to fill those who 
never pay anything except for a substantial 
return in prospect. That’s why church fairs are 
gotten up, to get at the dollar of this class, and 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


81 


it is the only amusement the young folks of small 
country towns have. But it was not to be a regu- 
lar fair ; who ever heard of church fairs when snow 
flakes are not in the air ? And it could not be a 
picnic out of doors, on account of those who 
would sit on the fence without paying for their 
admission. 

Adelaid suggested as the possible addition to 
their arrangements either a play, singing, or de- 
claiming, and all the young folks were wild for a 
play. The minister reluctantly consented to a 
play when she pointed out to him that it was 
someyiing for their money, value received, more 
moral than raffles and auctions at church fairs. 
His conditions w'ere that the play must be strictly 
moral, the performers either all girls, or all boys. 
Here w^as a dilemma ; for some girls would have 
to wear pants, and think of the voices of boys 
still at the smooth faced age, to play the parts of 
girls. The point had to be compromised : Kisses 
and embraces were debarred. The minister’s 
idea of a play was that it should be amusing with- 
out boisterous laughter, serious yet not stupid, no 
marriage, and no love making. He had never 
seen a play and Adelaid was in despair, but a 
sharp woman can always find a way out. It 
occurred to her that a biblical subject might suit 
liim, and it met his entire approbation excluding 


82 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


only Joseph and the less scrupulous wife of 
Pharaoh. Adelaid smiled at the thought of such 
a hero in a real love affair for the stage ; and to 
write up that episode between the two for any- 
body’s amusement w^ould have been beyond her 
power to accomplish. 

The report was that a play had been procured 
from the east, and approved by the minister, but 
the fact was that nothing being considered satis- 
factory Adelaid wrote a play, and having quite a 
moral to it succeeded in gaining the minister’s 
approval. She had considered the scheme of 
adapting a biblical subject from a monetary point 
of view and came to the conclusion, she assured 
the parson, that the outsiders whose patronage 
was desirable would hardly pay their quarters to 
see bible stories on the stage. Not even that of 
Abraham sending his servant for handsome Re- 
becca, and he falling in love and running away 
with her, which any modern servant would have 
done, would prove a “ draw card.” The clamor 
for a play being so great and nothing better on 
hand the minister accepted her work, protesting 
only mildly that some of the scenes were a little 
sensational ; but punishment for wickedness was 
a good excuse, and it was so urgent the church 
debt should be raised. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


83 


CHAPTEK III. 

Social lines are nowhere more sharply drawn 
than in small country towns, and Adelaides little 
dramatic club showed this as plainly as the casts, 
and money distinctions of larger cities. The 
leading parts were expected to be played by the 
socially prominent without regard to capacity, or 
willingness to work, and she was obliged to be 
positive. “ There should be no jealousy among 
you, w^hen all work for the same end,” she said to 
Amy Hardy who threw up her role as lady’s maid 
at the eleventh hour, the lady being one of the girls 
at the hotel especially fit for the part. “Miss 
Altmann was selected not because she is the pret- 
tiest, or the richest, or the poorest, or the most 
intelligent, but because she has a knack for such 
things, a talent as some would say, which does 
not mean that she has more brains than any of 
the rest, she might not do so well in some other 
part. There is no wwd more misused than talent, 
which means a liking, or love for a thing com- 
bined with intelligence and hard work. You 
learn to paint and draw, because of a liking for it. 


84 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


Avliich does not signify that you may become an 
artist, or a great artist, because you may not 
have the faculty to originate new and great ideas, 
think of a subject oiDportune to the times, or place, 
or occasion. Most of us who cannot do great 
things have to he content to follow in the tracks 
of others, and often it is clever to do that well. 
When people say they have no talent for drawing, 
painting, or music, or the beautiful whatever its 
name, it is equivalent to saying they never liked 
it well enough to overcome their indisposition to 
work to acquire a knowledge thereof — they admit 
they are careless, and lazy, and nonobservant. 

“ There is a difference in people, some learn 
quickly, or it is not in their line, while others get 
there in their own time. The former are the peo- 
ple who keep the world bustling, the latter may 
be famous.” Her little speech had no effect, for 
Amy’s Ma had “objected to her taking a part 
from the first,” she claimed ; play second fiddle, 
indeed, to a girl who surpassed her in every 
respect, but social position, was not in her Ma’s 
thoughts. 

Having gained her point with the minister it 
was of importance to prevent discussion of the 
play before hand, by the prejudiced incompetent, 
and secrecy was enjoined ; she would see that it 
was properly advertised. Accordingly a glowing 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


85 


report appeared in the “ Weekly Dispatch,” giving 
several side splitting extracts from “ Punishment 
of the wicked old Wretch,” or ‘‘Virtue Eewarded.” 
The runs the play had in eastern cities was mar- 
velous, the paper said, and the opportunity to see 
eastern talent was so rare it amounted to declin- 
ing a godsend not to see it. Young and old were 
wild over the play. 

Adelaid labored night and day under the great- 
est excitement, dear, old aunty seriously remon- 
strated, fearing the worst, to which the former 
replied that she had drifted this way and must 
swim with the current to keep from sinking. It 
was no premeditated plan, but blind chance ; yet 
play as it was she would have thrown up her 
hands to sink could she have forseen the conse- 
quences. It may be a blessing that the future is 
veiled to us, yet how much misery might be 
averted, if a thought of consequences could at 
times penetrate our clouded vision. We are most 
oblivious to our surroundings just before ap- 
proaching danger — as dead calms so often precede 
disastrous hurricanes. 

As her assistant Adelaid had a young man who 
found cutting up wall paper and pasting it to 
make scenery quite a school for him, and he 
entered into the work with the greatest interest. 
His admiration for her dexterity with the brush 


86 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


grew as her figures neared the finishing touches. 
He had done house painting, and his oft repeated 
‘if he could only paint like that,’ at last brought 
him his reward . Adelaid offered to in struct him in 
drawing as the necessary preliminary step to 
learning to paint, and he was now in great glee. 
It bound him to secrecy of their doings and pro- 
gress, and flattered his pride to be suspected of 
knowing more than he did. Meddlesome inter- 
ference in her production w^as in this way secured. 

Viewed by lamp light, in their "work shop, a 
vacant room over a store, the figures produced 
good shadow pictures, though by day light they 
appeared to be crude paintings. “ Distance and 
shadows lend effect,” said Adelaid to the boy. 
“ You never look at a person with a microscope, 
but that is the way the ignorant view paintings, 
and go away dissatisfied.” 

The picture of a horse secured to a rocking 
chair drawn across the floor gave it the appear- 
ance of galloping. Two horsemen in armor on 
caparisoned steeds galloped towards each other, 
to break a lance, as of old, and when the clash 
came one of them fell, and the other rode proudly 
on. Adelaid’s ingenuity in moving the figures, 
was tried to the utmost, and inuch practice with 
spools of thread was required. 

Her figures belonged to an age long passed and 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


87 


forgotten, but true to life and realistic ; battles 
were fought in dense forests of primitive oaks 
and castle walls as back ground. The life of cen- 
turies past was reproduced, and history was never 
taught more lucidly, and impressed more forcibly 
on the minds of her country audience, to whom 
the scenes w^ere foreign, whom the helmets and 
vizors inspired with fear ; to whom the peacable 
flannel shirt afforded greater security than the 
treacherous coat of mail. 

The arrangements are about completed, most 
of the pictures are in position, she surveyed her 
labors with satisfaction, and foresaw only success 
in a line which she had never attempted, even in 
her most enthusiastic child theater play of paper 
dolls. She claimed no art in the matter, and 
only expected to please people who were unused 
to such exhibitions. How easily she might have 
painted peacable farmers at work in a harvest 
field. It would have pleased them as well, look- 
ing only at the picture, but not what it teaches. 
Sitting on the fence at their ease, while the har- 
vesting was going on in the field w’ould have 
amused, but would not have instructed them in 
anything they had already learned from practice, 
of which the mind was surfeited, and in which 
any of them could give her lessons. 

There was no place in a harvest field for the 


88 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


figure she so much wished to present. A page 
from unwritten liistory, she answered the boy who 
was unable to solve the mystery of the large 
expanse of water, a strong current through the 
middle, indicating the deeper bed of a stream with 
here and there the tops of willow twigs marking 
its banks ; a slender girl, not yet arrived at wom- 
an’s estate, is crossing the water on the back of a 
peaceful cow. Is she a prisoner, the cow confis- 
cated, by the iron warrior following so close 
behind her? They are in the deepest part, and 
to hold her nose above water bossie throws back 
her horns by which the girl holds herself on her 
seat. At the first plunge into the deeper stream 
bed the cow is almost swejit off her feet, and with 
some anxiety the girl calls to her follower “ you 
are lost, Eitter, if your horse can’t swim.” 

Serious as the sitution is, he is amused at the 
humor of the girl’s fears, and admires her courage ; 
but the horse carries him through, freighted as he 
is by man and iron, only his head is above water. 
There are other figures in the picture, all warriors, 
running along the distant bank, but one is so near 
the first, if he is an enemy he has greatly the 
advantage. The painting presents him in a seri- 
ous predicament, and whatever mischief he has 
done it was his last. He evidently did not follow 
the cow, but plunged headlong over the steep bank 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


89 


that little more than his horse’s tail is visible, while 
the rider, too, is on the point of taking a header 
into the flood. 

The primitive forests, the hills, the mill in the 
water, only the stable on a hit of dry land, are 
the settings of the scene. She painted from 
memory, and required no cornfield to be brought 
to her room to paint it ; if her pictures are not 
portraits of some one you know they are realistic, 
her eagles have no resemblance to crowing roost- 
ers. Her realistic art lay not in the manner of 
touching her brush. Eealism in art too often 
means poor imitation ; the idealistic is inspired. 

She had a purpose in presenting these pictures, 
and knew her critic who must be satisfied. The 
difficulty of suitable attire for the girl — a short 
Faltenrock, tight fitting blouse, and Zwickel- 
struempfe — ^was easily overcome by her lady 
assistants, for the warior’s armor the tin smith’s 
art is required, and all is in readiness to receive 
the hundreds of people packed in wagons from far 
and near, who have come to the show. 

The panoramic views have been presented to 
the admiring audience, occupying every foot of 
available space in the hall, the white sheet on 
which the shadow pictures are tnrown is with- 
drawn, giving the audience the greatest surprise. 
A sheet of water, a steep hill, up which the girl 


90 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


and Knight are trying to escape, bushes and trees 
so suddenly meet the eye, and look so natural that 
nature seemed eclipsed. How beautiful and real ! 
The moon is shining. For a moment they are 
allowed to enjoy the scene. How did they get 
the bill, and the bushes in the hall ? 

THE PLAY. 

ACT I. 

Scene i. A cow and horse, from which the 
Ritter and girl have just alighted, a large expanse 
of water, submerged mill in the distance. 

(Enter Knight and Girl. R) 

Girl. Up this hill, Ritter, lies our way, our 
safety; haste, I hear the demons howling, and 
fear they ’ve found their way across. They soon 
will be upon us. ( He slips and falls — she jumps 
back to his side ) Yes, yes, I hear foot steps, they 
are coming — may night and forest give us shel- 
ter. (Moon goes down.) 

Rit. Save yourself, girl, leave the soldier to 
his fate. (He falls, she cannot raise him.) 

Girl. This iron harness was not made to climb 
a liill — could not breath in it. He must have 
swooned. ( Crying) What shall I do ? Heaven 
help me get him on his feet again ! [Ent. sold.] 
Sold. I hear, I see. (Asc.) Escape is impos- 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


91 


sible, surrender ! (She throws a stone at his head 
— he tumbles down the hill.) 

(Enter 2d Sold. — discovers Knight and girl.) 

2d Sold. Blitz, donner scatter your bones. 
Surrender ! ( Ascends. — In despair for a stone she 
seizes the axe of the warrior.) Hah, Vixen Bare 
Legs, surrender, or die ! Look behind you, a worm 
will bite you. ( J umps across a gully to her side.) 

G. ( Springs down a step, and strikes the fatal 
blow). Take that from Vixen Bare Legs, (he 
falls,) and I’d given you another, if you had only 
waited. ( Darts up the hill.] 

R. ( Raised on his elbow) Such deeds of valor 
deserve a crown ! 

Curtam. 

The vociferous applause that followed required 
the raising of the curtain presenting the tableau — 
the prostrate warrior, the girl with uplifted axe, 
and the soldier in position, warding off the blow — 
before the second scene could follow. 

Scene ii. In the Forest Glen. ( Knight in 
peasant attire stretched out on a bunk of - twigs, 
and moss, and pelts. Mother and daughter 
dressing his wound received in the water. Girl’s 
father, the miller, and brother, Johannes.) 

Mil. (With armor.) I’ll put away this thing, 
for he will not want it very soon, and it might get 
us all in trouble. [Ex. 


92 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


Grete. (Nervously.) Will he die, mother? 

Moth. I don’t know, child, it is a dangerous 
wound, and he is already advanced in years. I 
tremble for his safety. If found we should all be 
murdered. 

Gr. I feel dreadfully about those men. I could 
not help it, and did not know one blow would kill 
a man. They would kill me first. 

Kit. (Overhears their conversation— motions.) 
Let Grete go with me, she is not safe here, and I 
need her. We’ll leave to night. 

Moth. Where will you go ? 

R. To friends, or to my castle on the Rhine. 
I love the girl and will take good care of her. My 
daughter, her own age, will have a playmate. 

M. It is unsafe to travel. 

R. It is unsafe to stay. Dress her in boys 
clothes. 

[Enter Miller, much alarmed.] 

Mil. Flee, sir, as soon as night will cover 
your retreat, the forest is full of danger. Your 
horse stands ready, hidden in the briar bush, the 
road to the left leads to Fulda, to the right to 
Lauterbach, in your rear is Schlitz — choose your 
way. Grete to your hiding place. I wish we all 
could flee. [ Exit Grete C, Miller R 

R. It grieves me to think she is in danger, 
but I can only protect your child, if she is with 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


93 


me, at least lay domi my life for her, who is so 
noble. 

M. I have no boy’s clothes for the girl. 

Pi. We will get them with the troops, or in the 
nearest village. [Enter Grete dressed in Johan- 
nes’ leather breeches, jacket and fur cap, bare feet 
and legs, the latter wearing her frock.] 

Gr. Here, mother, is your boy. My shoes 
and stockings I’ll carry in my hands — it is not cold. 

M. They fit as if you had outgrown them. 

Gr Kiss me, good bye, mother. [Embraces 
Johannes.] I will send you word sometime, or 
come myself. Where is father ? 

JoH. He holds the horse, I told him you are 
going. 

E. Johannes must learn to read then you can 
write. Farewell, good woman, have no fear for her. 

Curtain. 

ACT II. 

Scene i. Eoom in a castle on the Ehine. 

[Enter Baron von Hartmann and Graf Usedom, 
E, behind portier in full view' of the audience.] 

Bar. I only wash to prove he is a viper. You 
do not know the deceit he hides behind his pretty 
eyes. These lonely walks have an object, his 
dowmcast countenance — I know a man, when I 


see one. 


04 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


Us. Yes, yes, but you would have to raise a 
horse’s tail to discover if he is a kicker. Johannes 
is the soul of honesty, I will not have him so sus- 
pected. He is unhappy, being out of place here 
in a castle, so many want to say a word to him — 
make love. You think I have been blind to this 
amusement ? The boy is bashful and homesick, 
longs for liis mill and freedom. 

B. Hark, some one approaches. 

[Enter Joh. andBotinus, son of the Baron, L.] 

Bot. I assure you, Johannes, I have no great 
love for my cousin, and think she likes you better. 

J. She is beautiful, has all the graces a man 
may desire in a woman. 

Bot. But my love runs not in her direction. 
A commission in the Duke’s own regiment, which 
you can have for the asking, and she loved me as 
she loves you, my noble uncle would soon hear 
from me. 

B. [Aside] A box on the ear for that. 

J. You are not serious ? 

Bot. Beheve you in Platonic love ? 

J. Plato, platonic — ah, is he the fellow who 
would escape the disconcerting influence of house- 
cleaning, and household drudgery by living in a 
barrel ? I have no love for him, or dirty and lazy 
habits — and to refuse the King’s invitation to the 
palace, because it required to be orderly ! 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


95 


B. [As.] I never heard of that. 

U. ” A capital idea, but he confounds the 
men. 

Bot. Ah, not he. No, Plato teaches of the 
purest, most disinterested affection a man can 
have for a — a — man, I believe. 

J. I have that love for Lady Sidonia — could 
never have it for a man. 

Bot. What, not for me ? 

J. Only for a woman. 

Bot. Say not you do not love me. 

J. Indeed, with all my heart ; (as.) but there 
is no Plato in it. 

Bot. Poor boy, you are so young, and still 
a stranger to the pangs of love. We shall always 
be the best of friends. Sometimes I have a long- 
ing which frightens me. I wish you were a girl. 
(Embracing Johannes.) 

J. To get you in trouble, me in petticoats. 
Hah, to wish me such calamities. Call you this 
Plato’s love ? He was a fool. Wish me a beard, 
a fortune. But why frightened ? ( Facing him.) 

Bot. I marvel, if some demon has possessed 
me. Halucination, or whatever you may call it. 
I dread some fatuous occurrence. My nights are 
full of dreams of a girl who is your counterpart, 
but she is gone as I will get a better look at her. 
Have you a sister ? 


9() A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 

JoH. Slie is my other self, a sprite to play 
you pranks with your poor nerves, of which you 
have lost control. Nay, loose not your temper lest 
some one find it. The women say it is so. 

Bot. Your good nature is not in me. I des- 
pise the women, for whom you have a merry 
twinkle. You should take a lesson regarding 
them. I’ll give it free of charge. 

JoH. No, no, they teach me faster than my 
poor wit may grasp. 

Bot. Then I’ll say adieu. Sidonia is expect- 
ing me. [Ex. L. 

JoH. (Sadly) If love is ever so blind, I love 
no other woman. Love gnaws the heart, as the 
toothless babe its rattle gnaws. Vain distress 
and empty dreams, unrealities, passed off in 
exchange for your ideal, of which nothing is sub- 
stantial but the blindness undeceived. It ends in 
misery great and small, according to our decep- 
tive artifices to hoodwink one another. She is too 
good for him, and his excellence will never make 
her happy. Could I but save her from her fate 
I’d gladly swing the axe on the battle field of 
human destiny. Graf Usedom, so cautious in the 
field, throws out no pickets, rear, or van ; blindly 
trusts the most unstable general. For only a 
woman crazed by jealousy can so tyranize another 
woman’s affections. I dare not sound the bugle 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


9Y 


of alarm, but something tells me there is help, and 
yet disaster coming. 

[Enter Lady Ursula, a relative to the Baron.] 

L. U. (Embracing Joh.) Mon cher ami, what 
fear has now possessed your timid heart ever con- 
juring up disaster? 

Joh. (Disgusted, disengaging liimself.) You 
frightened me. It was so unexpected. 

L. U. One would think you were a little girl. 

Joh. You, too, are out of breath, what’s in the 
wind? 

L. U. My love is in the wind — Johannes, my 
Johannes, you surely love me still? 

Joh. Never brother loved a sister, never wom- 
an had a truer feeling for another woman, if one 
trifling thought does enter in my breast. But 
why always harp this tune of love which is so old ? 

L. U. Being old it is ever new. 

Joh, To you? Ha, ha, ha — 

L. U. You break my heart ! 

Joh. (laughs) Is it so tender, its scars not 
healing, and a ruthless fate will have no mercy ? 

Graf U. (As.) A good hit. 

L.U. Ever jesting, when I am only five and 
twenty. The happiest matches come of mature 
deliberation. 

Bar. (As.) The lying jade. 

Graf. ” Five and forty, if a day — ha, ha, ha. 


98 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


JoH. Five and twenty, there stop, till I come 
up, and we’ll again deliberate. 

Gb. and Bab. [As.] Ha, ha, ha. 

L. U. Five years I cannot wait, Joh. In five 
years the world may come to an end, and my 
passion consume my love for you. Why hesitate ? 

Joh. Have you no thought of the Baron’s 
wrath ? 

L. U. I have a fortune to live in spite of the 
Baron’s wrath. 

Bab. [ As.] I’ll lock her up in a nunnery. 

Joh. The Graf’s escutcheon tarnished by the 
smell of bran ? And what shall grace our own, 
panel, a millstone around an infant’s neck, [As.] 
or a girl riding on a cow ? 

L. U. Johannes, you are levitous. 

Joh. But it w^ould be most appropriate. 

L. U. (Going) When shall we meet again to 
plan our flight ? 

Joh. When fate demands more victims, adieu ! 
Commend me to your relative. [ Exeunt C & L 
(Enter Baron and Graf.) 

Gb But he is an able fencer. No general 
ever maneuvered better, has ready wit at his com- 
mand, the half of which you do not understand. 
No fear of him. The old woman has not his love, 
and he scorns her fortune. This is better than a 
circus. [Laughing. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


09 


Bar. Your Grace will wance as well as 1. 

Gr. ( Hillar.) The old, wormy citadel has been 
captured by the beardless youth without a blow. 

Bar. Away, I hear footsteps. Let us hide. 
(As.) Now comes my revenge. 

(Enter Lady Sid. on the arm of Joh., talking. L) 

JoH. My dear Sidonia, I could not come before. 

S. I was so disappointed. 

Joh. It must be known to you that all my 
steps are dogged, not only by the pretty maids 
who think they are especially entitled to have me 
kiss their upturned lips on meeting them. It will 
make my beard grow faster, they say. Women 
live on such small favor. 

S. It does distress me to hear of your temp- 
tations. 

Joh. 0 don’t feel alarmed, they have to be 
pretty sly to get a kiss on me. 

S. Will it really make your beard grow ? 

Joh. I think it will, at fifty or more I shall 
have such a beard as at that age the women 
sport. Would you like to try it, dear girl ? 

S. I’d rather not, ’twill make us blush, I fear, 
I’ve never kissed a man but father. 

J. Then do not waste your precious lips on 
counterfeit, though I know none on earth I’d 
rather love than you. I told a friend, not long 
ago, it is true love invented by a neighbor of the 


100 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


man who prefered to live in a tub to building a 
house — and my hfe, sweet love, I’d sacrifice, but 
to bridge the gulf, that lies between our loves, can 
never be. 

S. But you have saved my father’s life twice 
over. He would forgive ; he loves you so ! 

J. Gave I you the father, must I now rob him 
of the daughter, when he has so richly rewarded 
me in knowing you ? Had I as many lives as 
there are tears in store for you how gladly I would 
lay them down for your perpetual happiness. 

S. ( In tears) Can we not meet in harmless 
play and jest, must we be strangers, then? 

J. Every day and hour shall be yours. 

Bar. (As.) Now strike him, the vermin, kill 
him dead. I’ll give the fatal blow, so you have 
compunctions. 

Gr. (As.) Madman, stop. I’ll throttle you 
this instant, if you hurt a hair on the head of this 
harmless boy. 

S. (Frightened.) I hear a noise of some one 
coming and must be gone. Adieu, Johannes. 
(She pouts her lips, he kisses.) 

J. The first girl I ever kissed and truly loved. 

S. Tomorrow — [ Ex. 

J. Tomorrow, if the day brings no new sorrow. 
To be a man, would be worth a life to sacrifice. 

[ Exit. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


101 


[Enter Graf and Baron. ] 

Gr. ’Tis like a play — A pity for the poor chil- 
dren, they die for very love. Love like Sidonia’s 
and Johannes’ is desperate. What say you, 
brother ? 

B. You are not doing right. Banish him, drive 
him away. A reward for his services, these hire- 
lings are ever open to pecuniary gain, may relieve 
your conscience. 

Gr. He is honest to the core. As to rewards, 
the humbler class have fair examples in their 
betters who are ever willing to accept a fief, an 
earldom, or at least a baronetcy, as a contingent 
for no services. 

Bar. (As.) Botiims must bring the matter to 
a close. (Voices — exit Graf and Baron behind 
portier.) Surely you are blind, brother, if you 
will not take precautions. 

[Enter Job. excitedly, followed by the Countess 
Usedom.] 

J. Heaven help me now. Vain hope that for 
a day I might escape her loving persecution. [Gr. 
moves to his assistance restrained by the Baron.] 

C. At last you are here, dear boy. I have 
wrongfully accused you of base deception, and 
crave your pardon for my hasty judgment, 
prompted by my passionate love. 

J. Not even against the Count, your husband. 


102 


A MYSTERY EXPLAItvED. 


has my heart been guilty of deception, it is but 
chance your ladyship find me here. 

Count. It becomes us ill to have a lover’s 
quarrel, dear boy, but what prevented you last 
night? I did not sleep a wink ere dawn. I rolled 
and tossed in passion’s arms instead of my young 
lover’s. 

JoH. I need more a mother’s love, than pas- 
sion’s to which I am a stranger. I beg your lady- 
ship regard the gossip, I fear, already loud. 

(Graf prevents the Bar. making a noise.) 

C. I know of years I have the more, but my 
love burns as of yore ; and your youthful heart, 
too, will enjoy the transport when fear is overcome. 

J. I never heard of love, poor people express 
their honest feeling by a pressure of the hand ; 
here, it seems, the universe is hinged on it. I have 
not such love that could wrong man or woman. 

C. Foolish cliild, not to know ’tis enjoyment 
to be wronged by your love. It is not the senti- 
ment of young lovers, nor flattering to my youth- 
ful feelings. You are not yet sure of yourself, 
but meet me to night and to morrow you will be 
a man. (Embracing him.) 

J. Be prudent. Madam ! 

C. Prudence — such love as mine cannot brook 
foolish nonsense. You are mine, dear boy. (J. 
struggles to free himself.) 


A MYSTEEY EXPLAINED. 103 

Gb. (As.) AA ell, brother, what think you of * 
your sister ? The first was only a circus, and the 
second an affecting play ; but truely, this is a hip- 
podrome. I hope you have enjoyed it. It’s the 
first time you have ever served me well. 

B. (As.) I did not know all this. The older 
the thief the less he can be trusted, is still true. 

Gr. (As.) She ’ll hurt him unless I make an 
end of it. 

J. This is not very motherly. [Gets away.] 

B. (As.) Strike him dead for this disgrace. 

Gr. ” Not a hair on his head shall be hurt. 

But I will see to her. 

C. [Going.] Wear the robes, and no disap- 
pointment, so you value my friendship. Adieu. 

[Exit. C. 

J. ( Sadly.) Adieu your ladysliip. If this is life 
in a castle I wish I was in camp, where between 
tattoo»and reveille honest people are abed. The 
men must hate all woman kind for the frivolities 
of the few. Soon they will hate me and I must 
flee their wrath. ‘ So I value her friendship ! ’ 
Some morning I’ll be found with my throat cut. 
Poor Sidonia, and her father has no care for her ! 

I feel like playing tricks on them, make a man of 
straw dressed up in the robes ; in the mean time 
I will order myself to camp. Adieu life in a 
castle. The Heermuehle, where honest folks live. 


104 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


is good enough for me. But Sidonia shall know 
Johannes. [Enter Graf Usedom. E] 

Gr. Yes, and now, the poor loving child. 
Break it gently to her. I’ll take your place to 
night, when you are with Sidonia. You understand ? 

J. Perfectly, your Excellency. 

Gr. What are those robes ? 

J. A priests. 

Gr. Ha, this explains a world of mystery. 
Place them convenient to hand. [Ex. L & E 

Scene ii. Lady’s boudoir — Sidonia discovered 
with needle work — knocking on the door L., rises 
to admit Johannes carrying a spinning wheel. 

. J. See, dear Sidonia, we are to meet much 
sooner than expected. I have a message from 
your noble father, and permission to spend the 
evening with you. Does it meet with your con- 
venience ? 

S. Oh, it is so pleasant to look on you again 
— ^is there no danger ? 

J. None whatever, dear, at least we’ll circum- 
vent it by strategy. In the first place I picked 
up this wheel ostensibly to give you a lesson in 
spinning. Secondly, would you like to see me in 
a lady’s gown ? That will doubly secure us against 
intruders. 

S. 0, that will be so jolly, and we’ll be two 
girls. You will tell me all your secrets, and about 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


105 


your sweet heart, where he lives, and his name. 

I often long for a girl companion, we could talk, 
so pleasantly. ( Gets a dress) Go right in there. 
J. Yes, I will tell you about my sweet heart. 

S. I fear you will not know how to put on 
these trappings. So complicated, and don’t forget 
the powder and rouge, and a last look in the 
mirror, ha, ha, ha. 

J. As complicated as the drill of a regiment 
of halbertiers. Trust me to extricate us from a 
dilemma. [ Exit. C 

S. Who, but Johannes could have thought of 
this ? Lessons in spinning, ha, ha, ha. He is such 
a droll boy. Has father discovered our love, and 
gives his permission ? Can it be that my young 
dream will be realized, the barriers broken down, 
and my tears cease to flow? Johannes mine — 0 
father ( kneeling before his portrait) you are the 
best — [Enter Johannes, touches her shoulder.] 
J. (Averted face.) Come now, dear, judge, if 
I walk properly, hold my skirts correctly, in front 
and behind, when I step across a puddle, or wish 
to display my pretty feet ? ( minces in coquettish 
ways — Sidonia, uncertain of Johannes’ sex, is vio- 
lently startled, and the latter imprints a kiss, 
throwing her arms around the fainting girl.) What 
startles you, dear child ? Have you recognized an 
elder sister? (Sadly) It is so, and I speak truly. 


106 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


You are not deceived. ( Sidonia touches the long 
braids of hair.) My own hair, dear. (Looking 
down in her eyes.) Is it not better so? No 
lover^s quarrels — no jealousies ! A sister’s is the 
only love that’s true. 

S. 0, but you were such a pretty boy — a dear 
sister now. Walk now that I may judge, if you 
have really woman’s ways. 

J. Do I step gracefully, dear ? 

S. Charming. I begin to like you even better 
than as a beardless boy, and wish I w^as a man, a 
real man, I’d be your lover. ( Knock on the door.) 
Sit to your wheel, I’ll introduce you as a friend. 

[Enter Botinus, Sid. introduces Johannes.] 

’T is a friend, my cousin, on a visit, will teach me 
to spin, if my dulness can master the art. 

Bot. ( To Sid.) I have often wished to learn 
the art of spinning, it is so entertaining when you 
are in sleepy company, and beg of your friend to 
take another pupil. Your friend’s features look 
familiar — have we not met somewhere ? 

J. (Spinning) I, too, remember having seen 
you. You were speaking to a page at the door 
on the evening of my arrival. 

S. I will order me a spinning wheel. [Ex. 

Bot. It is said all the women are infatuated 
with that page, and I no less can see much beauty 
in his eyes ; they bear a strong resemblance to you. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


107 


[ Enter Sidonia with a spinning wheel.] 

S. Here is my wheel ready for the lesson. 

J. Have we not spun enough to day ? ’Tis 
said hurry makes worry. We shall progress faster, 
if we use moderation. (Rises, lays his arm 
around Sidonia’s waist, who courtesys to, Botinus 
the former giving a miHtary salute, archly glancing 
at him as they march past.) 

S. Mind the hour, cousin, when school begins, 
if you persist in being our pupil. Adieu ! [ Ex. 

Bot. [Amazement.] A woman’s secret. A 
man not in it. I’ll fight a duel, (in violent mo- 
tion ) or say ugly things to every woman who 
dares steal a glance at my Johannes. Is this 
their love affair which I thought so serious ? The 
mysterious bond of love, though outward seeming 
was opposed, had never better cause. My heart 
said love in every throb, blind reason stopped at 
the outer garment and said no. Thus hollow 
philosophy blinded and victimized me from ap- 
pearances. Heaven’s own lesson in spinning the 
invisible thread of love already learned, what need 
of a lesson on a spinning wheel, the other being 
so easy to practice ? [ Exit. L 

A C T III. 

Scene i. Room in the castle. 

Enter Graf, Countess, Lady Ursula, L. Priest. R. 


108 


A MYSTERY EXPLAIMED. 


Gr. Here are the culprits, father, hear their 
several confessions, and mete out their penitence 
behind the dungeons walls, where never sun, nor 
moon shines on their shame. I’ll go foi others. 

[ Exit. 

Both. Have mercy, 0 have mercy ! 

Priest. ( To Countess) Your Ladyship will 
have the precedence. 

C. I love the boy, would give my life for him 
who may be already cold in death. 

L. U. Heaven protect him, and I was to be his 
lawful wife. 

C. Fie ! You and marrying the boy I loved. 

Pr. I fear, my ladies both, no penance will 
save you from a horrible fate except the veil. Em- 
brace the opportunity and you are saved. Thus 
protects the church her children ; and by Heaven’s 
mysterious ways evil turns to good. 

[Enter Graf and ladies — Baron von Hartmann.] 

Gr. How now, father, have they confessed 
that I may execute their punishment ? 

Pr. Not yet, your excellency, are they in your 
power. The Church has a prior claim, if they 
elect to expiate behind the veil the wrongs com- 
mitted. 

Gr. Ah ! The veil is to quench their burning 
love. 

(Enter Johannes in lady’s attire.) 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


109 


J. I am Johannes, their innocent inamorato, 
( Sensation.) and your excellency, at least bear a 
share of their guilt in placing temptations in their 
way, which in their weakness they could not resist. 
I beseech you act not with haste, but give them 
time for repentance of their passion’s folly. 

Gr. Child, what should I do with so many fool- 
ish women ? Had I not been a witness of it all 
their guilt would fall on you. 

J. Nay, accuse me not of that, nor exempt me 
from an insight into passion’s agony. Should a 
man make no resistence to clandestine meetings 
with another’s wife ? Though I could not prevent 
my passion’s bend, yet being master of myself in 
full control, I could not rob another woman of a 
husband however great my woe. 

Gr. (Takes a hasty step towards his wife.) 
They shall not go unpunished (J. springs between 
them) for your clamorings. 

J. Sidonia, think of your daughter. Break not 
her heart and take revenge which falls on her with 
double force : Once for the father wronged, and 
once again for the father avenged. 

Pr. I join in prayer with her, conditions being 
such that greater evil was averted. 

Gr. Pray, wherein differs the intention from 
the deed? 

B. Every culprit has the right to speak. 


110 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


Gr. Hah, would you hear their shame as well 
as see it ? (Enter messenger with a letter.) 

Mess. A letter from the Duke. 

Gr. What new vexation - read, Joh., (passing 
the letter.) 

J. (Excitedly.) To arms, the country calls, the 
King is in danger. Already the wild hordes have 
crossed the Rhine. (Holds up a paper enclosed.) 
A commission for J. Heermueller, with orders to 
enlist a regiment. [Exit. 

Gr. Am I here alone now helpless ? My armor, 
child ; where is Johannes, that I once more obey 
my country’s call? Alas, it is a heavy task 
to raise my palsied limbs. (Enter Joh. armored.) 

J. Here is your place, arm all these \vomen 
with swords and spears, and to the ramparts with 
them ’tis a better place, though not as safe, than 
in a dungeon far from strife. Let them show the 
foe that in numbers we are equal. The Priest 
can lead them. 

Women (As. craning their necks.) ’Tis he, the 
cheat, or she, who now will have us butchered for 
our kisses. 

Pr. (Disg.) ’Tis not for earthly strife we wear 
the surplice. 

J. Cannot a priest run ahead of a flock of 
women? (A scream in the distance. Ent. Sid.) 

S. (Entreat.) I cannot let you go alone to meet 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


Ill 


the dangers of the battlefield. I’ll be your page, 
dear, say not no. 

J. No, no, dear sister, no — every man in the 
field would know you are a girl ; your girlish ways 
would sOon betray us both — would send us to the 
nursery for battlefield. Your father needs a cap- 
tain, look after the women that they hold their 
posts, and fell not each other. (Ent. Bot. in unif.) 

B. In the thickest of the fray, by the side of Joh. 
you will find me, or together in the arms of death. 
Sidonia, I commend my father to your care, as 
also the fair dames of your command, (kiss.) Ad- 
ieu, sw^eet girl, your prayers attend us. Adieu. 

[Ex. R 

J. (Embr. Sid.) Kiss me dear, kiss me deep and 
fervently as only lovers kiss ; our next meeting 
may be far removed from earthly tribulation, and 
I would ever live kindly in your memory. Adieu ! 
Your excellency will not forget the favors I have 
asked, for which, and all the good I have enjoyed 
I am ever thankful. May the lesson the ladies 
have learned bring fruits of chaste reserve and 
purity. Adieu, all ! [Ex. R. 

Gr. The first general order for this force will 
be to repair to the chapel for prayer. As death 
is near, its shafts insidious, you will pay due 
regard to the order. The second general order is 
that you report here, within the hour in uniform 


112 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


and armed with spear and shield, or whatever 
weapon you find convenient to hand. [Exeunt. 

[Enter second messenger.] 

How now, sir, what news from the front ? 

Mess. Bad, your excellency, the enemy is 
breaking through the line, you are to mass your 
forces for a desperate defense. [Ex. mess. 

Gr. Baron, sound the alarm for muster. [ Exit 
B. beating of drums — enter women, big and small, 
all ages, drawn up in line — Graf reviewing his 
force.] A respectable force, I have often been 
content with less. 

B. Indeed, sir, so have I. If we can repel 
an attack in front all will be well. But the gates 
are in bad^'epair, the draws work badly. 

Gr. Place half the force in front, the Countess 
and Lady Ursula to the post of honor. [Ent. 
mess.] What news have you ? 

Mess. Our forces are retreating, but will make 
a stand at the castle. [Several women faint — exit 
B., force, mess. 

Gr. Sidonia divide the remaining force to the 
other gates. Have the rear well manned, and 
return for further instructions. [ Ex. Sid. & force. 

[Enter Sid., B,. mess. — great tumult outside.] 
What portends this uproar of rejoicing? 

S. Good news has been received. 

Mess. I bring the news of a glorious victory. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


113 


though at a fearful cost ; we are not able to pursue 
the enemy. We were beaten by numbers of two 
to one when that mtrepid young commander 
Johannes Heermueller, most gallantly assisted by 
Botinus von Hartmann, received orders to ad- 
vance. Like a thunderbolt be carried a lost posi- 
tion of great vantage, threw the enemy in confu- 
sion which ended in a rout. Many a brave man 
has measured his length on the battlefield to day, 
and this courageous officer of the valiant band 
was at last accounts still missing, (Sid. faints.) 
snorting and sniffing the air, his horse was pranc- 
ing riderless about. 

S. (Lament.) I was impressed that our part- 
ing was forever. She, too, had the premonition 
that it was our last embrace. To the battlefield. 
How long will it take us to the battlefield, sir ? 

Mess. All night, sir, and all day. 

Curtain. 

ACT HI. 

Scene i. Boom in the castle. Johannes in 
ladies’ attire is discovered lying on a couch — Sid., 
and Botinus kneeling by the couch, each hold- 
ing a hand. The Duke and Graf standing at the 
head, (R) the former reading a paper which he 
hands to the Graf. The Baron, Countess, and 
Lady Ursula at the foot. 


114 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


JoH. ( Feebly placing Sidonia’s hand in that 
of Botinus whispers.) Thus will you keep the 
memory of Grete Fischer alive. [ A feeble smile 
lights up her features, as without a struggle she 
breaths her last. — The music play a dirge. The 
Duke places her helmet at the head of the couch, 
the Graf secures the epaulets to her shoulders. 
Sidonia and Botinus, shaking with emotion, kiss 
her. The Countess puts a bouquet in her folded 
hands. Soldiers and ladies march past and drop 
a dower on the corpse as an expression of grief. 

Curtain. 

The hush w^hich had fallen on the audience 
during this impressive scene marked the deep 
feeling produced by the play. But in a few min- 
utes silence gave way to tumultuous applause, and 
calls for the raising of the curtain, in which they 
had to be disappointed. 

Again the curtain goes up and we are in a 
handsomely furnished parlor— carpeted door, plush 
sofa and chairs, elegant tables, stands, a dresser 
mth mirror, rugs and ottomans strewn about the 
room indicating a lady’s boudoir — portier I. C., a 
curtained window L. 

A C T IV. 

Scene i. Country Besidence — Enter Dr. Hope 
and wife L. [laden with parcels, bundles, and 












A IVrrSTERY EXPLAINED. 


116 


valises, which are dropped every where about the 
room.] 

Wife. So, her® we are, dear, all alone, for 
Nurse is in the house in the city, and I do not 
wish to surprise her in the night ; I do not, how- 
ever, like to stay here long to be reminded of the 
old miser. ( Goes to the window, parts the curt.) 
Here is the window from which I have made love 
to you so long, and you never mistrusted how 
dear a friend you had behind this curtain ! 

( Enter the old miser. E) 

Mis. (Shambles in from the opposite side, 
hoarsly laughing.) Ha, ha, ha ! Don’t like to be 
reminded, ha, ha, ha, I’ve caught you in my trap, 
ha, ha, ha ! 

Eecognizing the voice Mrs. Hope turns with 
terror in her features. 

Wife. Wretch ! If not his ghost how came 
you here ? 

M. They carried off the coffin, but did’nt look 
inside, ha, ha, ha — I’ve caught you in my trap. 

W. ( Springs forward.) Escaped the devil to be 
taken by the hangman — the prison door shall 
close more terribly upon you, than the grave, for 
the murder of — (to get out of her way he stum- 
bles, falling backwards over a valise, and is killed.] 

Dr. (Feels his pulse) Dead ! 

W. Dead ? 


116 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


Dr. Murdered by your hands ! 

(Drops on a chair.) My hands ? And my 
husband accuses ^ me of murder when I have not 
even touched him ? 

Dr. Your husband, Madam, that is mildly 
stated. The law calls it by a less endearing name. 

AV. And tliis is all the consolation I can get 
from you? 

Dr. Consolation, when we have put our names 
on record ? 

W. (Beaches out to him.) Oh, take mein your 
arms and say all will yet be well. I was told he 
was dead! 

Dr. ( Turns away.) Never, never 1 

AY. ( Bushes to the closet, seizes a vial, drinks 
and falls, breatliing his name, as he runs to her 
side.) My husband ! 

Dr. (Picks up the vial, Hydr. ac.) Hydrocy- 
anic acid, the deadliest of all poisons, no antidote 
can save her. (falls down.) Oh live, my darling, 
live, all shall be well. I cannot live without you. 
(Kisses her.) Already death has claimed its 
victim. I am her murderer! AVhat shall I do? 
There is but safety in flight. ( Falls down again.) 
Forgive, my angel — oh, my darling, forgive my 
hasty words. (He picks up a valise and rushes 
fi’om the room.) [Exit. 


Curtain. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


117 


Hisses and “ shoot him ” was the first that 
greeted the ear, mingled with vociverous applause, 
but the fleeing Eoni, the young husband, had no 
ear for either. He had with difficulty restrained 
himself to finish his lines. A groan from the 
audience had not escaped liis ear, and when the 
wretched doctor exclaims : “ there is but safety in 
flight,” a scream for help was the cause of his 
mad rush for the door, whither the fainting man 
had been carried. 

Aware that something had happened by the 
mad rush of Eoni and his continued absence, 
Adelaid struggled to hold herself up in her chair 
behind the curtain. How happily everything was 
to have ended, and with what anticipations her 
heart had throbbed this play into being! The 
audience is getting impatient and tumultuous, 
and something has to be done. She steps in 
front and ahs, and ohs, are heard as the real 
actress is recognized. Vociverous cheering, but a 
wave of her snowy white hand, so distinctive in 
this assemblage of red fisted country wives pro- 
duced silence, still hoping by the delay to have 
Eoni for the finishing of the play, but the curtain 
goes up, another man must read his lines. 

The young wife is discovered lying on the floor 
where she fell, the old miser’s corpse for company. 
Eegaining consciousness, she is writhing in agony. 


118 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


A wild scream announces the realization of her 
situation, and many ladies brush the mist from 
their eyes, while the men swear under their breath 
at the husband’s perfidy and flight. 

W. My vision ’s dim, my eyeballs bursting ; 
my mouth is full of scorching fire, my insides 
purged with burning flame — deserted — alone with 
this horrid carcass — my curse in life, my horror 
in death. Ha, I wish it had been hydrocyanic 
acid, all would now be over. ( Eaises on her elbow, 
falls down again.) Dying? These papers will 
gonvict him to the gallows. Poor man! Will 
the recollection drive him mad ? ( Gathers up the 
papers within reach and slowly staggers to her 
feet.) There may be some antidote will stop this 
horrid pain, or quench my burning thirst ; there 
’s naught can assuage my maddened brain. [ Exit 
portier C, the hand on her head and unsteady step. 
(Enter Doct., lights a match, looks over the floor.) 

Dr. What ! Gone ? ( hearing a noise, he hides 
in the closet.) 

(Enter burglars E.) 

1st burg. I dell you, Fritz, nobody is living in 
dis house. Did I not see his funeral one day long 
time ago? Lock all dem doors, boys. 

2d b. I know dis house is haunted mit ghosts. 

Fr. What else can haunt a house ? 

2d b. Burglars, ha, ha. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAI^IED. 


119 


1st b. (Stumbles on the coq)8, they turn a 
light on it.) Here it is, boys. A bad ding, boys. 
I dakes nodding here, let’s go. 

3d b. It’s the old miser whose funeral you saw. 
I always knew he’d cheat the undertaker, or may 
be he had a pull mth him. 

Fr. He may not be dead, fellers, but be in 
one of them fits and can’t wake up. 

3d b. [pulls down his mask.] And will tell 
on us, and we’ll get pulled. 

Fr. Carry him out, and when we go away we’ll 
blow him up and every body will lay it on the 
anarchists. 

3d b. That’s good on the anarchists. 

Fr. Take hold some one. [Exit with corpse- 
explosion. All in consternation, running about.] 

Enter 3d b. with bloody face, broken arm, etc. 

3d b. It was bad business — the old man’s 
hand caught in Fritz’ pocket then I went through 
a hole in the fence, so small I couldn’t find it to 
come back that way. 

1st b. Where’s Fritz ? 

3d b. With the old man, not enough left to 
take a keepsake to his wife. 

1st b. Boys this house is haunted. [ Noise in 
the closet. All rush out.] [ Exeunt. 

The young wife again enters through the portier 
led by her faithfull old friend, the nurse. Her 


120 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


pale face and bent form are evidence of physical 
suffering, but the deafening applause is quickly 
hushed, for the people are eager to hear each 
word as it drops from her trembling lips. 

W. Leave me, dear friend. 

N. But you are not yet strong enough. 

W. Have no fear, dear, I will but cast one 
last glance at the scene where my measure of 
happiness was filled to the brim, and dashed to 
earth as I reached out to take it. [ Slowly moves 
to the window’, parts the curtain. Exit Nurse.] 
Here my timid, trembling heart first learned its 
lesson, wdiere satan’s hoarse breath of discord 
dashed loves gentle dream to fierce, wild, dark 
despair. I worshiped him, yea Heaven itself 
w’ould I have sacrificed. But only death could 
purchase my pardon — for no w’rong. [ Here the 
girl w^as overcome with natural emotion, and it 
required a stamp of Adelaid’s foot and repeating 
of the next line to prevent her breaking down.] 
Has this closet no relief for my frenzied brain ? 
[ Tw’o strides to the bolted door, tearing it open 
a white headed, emaciated man falls towards 
her — a terrified scream, she jumps and drops back 
on a chair.] 

Man. [Creeping to center.] An angel from 
heaven must have opened this door, or is reason 
dethroned? The light has fled my eyes, I am 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


121 


delirious, still in the closet — Oh could I but live 
to shed one tear on her lonely grave, ere her mur- 
derer goes down into the unhallowed ground ! 

W. [Terrified.] Who — who are you? 

M. The wretch who murdered my angel wife. 
The villain who did not swallow the dose, her 
hand in despair had seized. 

W. No, no — she lives. You love her still ? 

M. Your mocking words are not more keenly 
felt than the poignant love by which my heart is 
rent. Henceforth no other thought, no other care 
shall enter there, save — how — I — have — mur- 
dered — her ! 

W. As hope your sightless eye lend strength, 
she living still will change remorse to heaven’s 
sweetest messenger. ( Lifts the prostrate man on 
a chair.) I — am — your — wife. 

Curtain. 

The deafening applause which followed this act 
by many supposed a continuation of the preceding 
play, though with centuries between, at last died 
away, and the last of the tearing, neighing, fright- 
ened teams had left, and through all this Adelaid 
endured the agonies of the actual heroine in the 
unceidainty of Roni’s absence. Her throbbing 
headache caused by the evening’s excitement, and 
anxiety for the denouement of the play, was getting 
worse with every beat of the pulse. 


122 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


CHAPTEK IV. 

The store of Mr. Harter was not opened next 
morning, nor was he on hand to wait on custom- 
ers for many weary weeks of watching and mis- 
givings, during which the owner lay behind the 
dingy shutters in a rear room in a precarious 
condition ; and his unaccountable conduct at the 
performance was explained. Indignation gave way 
to sympathy, all wanted to be of service to him, 
especially as the ladies at the hotel took so much 
interest in him. Adelaid, with no binding occu- 
pation, was a daily attendant, sitting with other 
ladies to watch and nurse him, while he was qui- 
etly dozing, unconscious, insensible to pain or 
suffering, swallowing only drink or liquid nourish- 
ment and medicine placed between his lips. His 
nights, were most distressing, when the fever rose 
towards midnight, the wildest delirium accom- 
panying it, subsiding only towards the approach- 
ing day. He was haunted by an imaginary 
enemy, from which he tried to escape ; frequently 
called the name of a woman, unknown to those 
who were around, him. 


A MASTERY EXPLAINED. 


123 


And again he would talk of murder, as if the 
play was still lingering in his fancy, begging piti- 
ously to be forgiven ; but little was known of these 
ravings, Adelaid alone being in the secret, for with 
the approach of night Koni took charge of him 
and the doctor’s directions to permit no loungers 
around him were faithfully observed. 

All this is changed now, and he is again able 
to be up and indulge in occasional sniffs of the 
balmy spring air, or sit in the parlor of the hotel, 
having changed his lodgings, at the instance of 
the ladies, from his dingy little room, as full of 
depressing memories as the store was full of smells 
and goods. The two strangers, and such of the 
ladies as had a previous acquaintance, make every 
effort to dispel his gloomy broodings, low spirits 
seem to be his habitual companions. Adelaid 
has ever some new subject to introduce to cheer 
him up in pleasant conversation, or reading. He 
is beginning to miss he^ when out of sight, and 
the town ladies joke liim about her, and pretend 
jealousy, she being the only one for whom he 
cares, or who can divert him. 

He parries these banterings, asking : “ Do you 
not all feel as I do ? She is like a brilliant meteor, 
now we have her in a moment she may be gone ; 
but you,” he adds humorously, “ I have always.” 

He is convalescent but still irritable, and abrupt 


124 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


in his manner. Of course all this is excused on 
the ground of bad digestion, the nerves being weak, 
or some other trivial cause, but never the right. 
A man is impatient not solely from ill breeding, 
or ill natured from some remote or near cause, 
tormenting his memory, but by the readiness of 
his perceptions to arrive at conclusions. Impa- 
tience is an emotion excited by a subject vibrating 
the brain ether, like all mental processes, love, or 
hate, or a disposition to hilarity. 

The brain ether being in greater demand than 
the exhausted body can furnish results in impa- 
tience for additional drafts on the invalid func- 
tions. His more ready perceptions take in the 
details at a glance, but a man hanging over a 
precipice cannot hang long before the muscles 
give way, and the nearer exhaustion the more 
unequal the supply of nerve force. His mind is 
systematic in its operations, and he cannot under- 
stand why you are so slow, so dull. It is method 
in the unconscious process ’of thought evolution, 
not size or weight of brain that distinguishes great 
thinkers ; though the difference in amount in a 
given space of time may be in favor of the larger 
brain, or that the smaller requires hours to over- 
come obstacles which the other surmounts at a 
bound. Many large brains cannot cope with 
smaller. Even Webster never became president ! 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


1:25 


The incomprehensibility of the process of think- 
ing is only apparent not real, it is simple, and the 
instrument of thought evolution is simplicity itself 
— since one medium only is at work in the vari- 
ous operations, characterized as perception, com- 
prehension, consciousness, memory, will, emo- 
tions. It requires but a cause to vibrate brain 
ether to consciousness ; and the same velocity of 
vibration will reproduce that cause, or object, 
wliich constitutes memory. This is the store 
house of events in the complexity of man’s intel- 
lect. As to consciousness it is the simple func- 
tion of vibration of brain ether, produced by an 
object or subject. 

It is no mere supposition to claim the existence 
of brain ether, and nerve ether, which are the con- 
duits of physiological and psychological vibra- 
tions. Ether vibrations could not affect a solid 
substance like the retina, or the auditory nerves, 
which are the conduits of nerve ether vibrating 
through them, when objectively affected. The 
physiological processes of the body are due to 
endosmosis of the nerve ether, vibrations thus 
reaching and influencing the atoms to responsive 
vibration. 

Necessity and reasoning beget will — this is the 
best, most desirable, therefore I will, or I won’t. 
Memory enables will to work at long distances, 


126 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


while emotions are of shorter range — which any 
man of late hours may verify, noting the differ- 
ence in his reception, if he has a bandbox in his 
arms or — comes home late empty handed. 

It is the Harter kind of man whose emotion is 
impatince, when emotional woman gets deep into 
emotional fads thinly varnished over under vari- 
ous misnomers, rules, maxims, and precepts, 
through which the inventor’s transparent igno- 
rance glitters. What am I saying ? “ There is 

nothing real,” even ignorance must lose its hide- 
ousness, becomes a virtue — ignorance of the essen- 
tials of thought, utterly innocent of distinguishing 
a fad from a fact ; or to analyze the process of 
imagining, although so easy to perform the act. 

To imagine is to think of a thing as existing 
that does not exist — you can see better on a dark 
night, if you imagine it is not dark. And that a 
“ New Thought ” is as unreal as the old is a logical 
conclusion from the premises of the illogical emo- 
tionist, the originator of the labyrinths of nothings 
they call “ thought,” in which the simple get lost. 

The emotions make up one half of woman’s 
intellect intermingled with vanity and selfishness, 
which never lead to greatness. As for the other 
half, well, she never composed an opera, success- 
fully conducted a mercantile establishment, nor 
led an army to success. Cleopatra commanded 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


127 


a navy. Alas, poor Anthony ! He must have 
wished she hadn’t. 

But this vdll all be different in the future, for 
clothes do make a difference in people, although 
a change of bonnet does not increase the size of 
the head, but which is not necessary. It is the 
systematic thinking which decides the masculinity 
of the person — let woman of the future remember 
that — as a wheel under her hips enables her to 
get along faster than a wheel in her head. 

Emotinal fads, temperance, revivals, elevation 
of woman, and more of that class, are not thought 
evolution, but mostly the result of vanity and 
selfishness, or hysteric sympathy, which endure in 
fervency as long as it is profitable and enhancing 
notoriety. They have become threadbare, though 
of some public benefit. The foremost of the 
so called thinkers have done nothing to rival men, 
though opportunity has no choice. The hot bed 
of fads, the Athens of emotionalism, has produced 
a popess, before whom even men bow their weak 
knees. And all for a bottomless fad. 

There is no reason why woman should have 
less opportunity than man; but coming to his 
level, which of necessity she must to succeed in 
the competition, there are many lines that will tend 
to drive honest men away from her, for a man 
may bear meanness in another man, but he will 


V2S 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


not tolerate it in a woman without lowering bis esti- 
mate of the sex. There are at least two profes- 
sions that will unsex her to excel in them. It is 
the duty of the lawyer to defend and clear his 
client, though convinced of his guilt. Morally he 
becomes the abetor of the criminal, if he succeeds. 
To cut and saw up human anatomy to rank with 
the foremost in the profession, she will often have 
to butcher without hope to benefit, or save life. 

Humanity is prone to be emotional, and the 
man who is too self possessed to exhibit emotions 
is apt to have more enemies than friends, since 
great lasting friendships are its achievements. An 
emotion will be according to the cause producing 
the impression — differing in different indivduals 
from the same cause — memory being required to 
furnish a comparison. The emotion is ready 
made without a conscious vibration of brain ether. 
A man will swear, a woman weeps, and there are 
those who laugh, or pray, as the conclusion is 
drawn from a previous comparison. As tranquil- 
ity is without annoying cause, patience is reason- 
ing with less penetration than impatience. 

Emotions are logical, or illogical. The former 
from cause, is acute; the latter without cause, 
which is supposed, is the producer of esoteric 
fads, inner consciousness, and religious excite- 
ment in general. Harter’s emotions were of the 


A MYSTERT EXPLAINED, 


129 


former as he sat listening to the simple melodies 
from the instruction book of a pupil played by 
Adelaid’s masterhand to her friends who could 
appreciate no better music. He watched her good 
natured features beaming with amusement at the 
outburst of the simple ignorance of her listeners, 
as one beat time with her foot, another tried to 
hum the melody with the playing, and still another 
indicated her pleasurable excitement by bobbing 
her head in time with the music — one actually 
danced accross the floor, and this scared him. 

He hoped in vain each leaf turned would be the 
last, but there was yet another piece they wanted 
to hear. He fidgeted for some time, but now lost 
all patience, and politely asked Adelaid to close 
that book and play some music. They all felt 
sorry for her to be criticized that way. Mrs. Terry 
who laid claim to a higher education and could say 
things better expressed her appreciation. “A mu- 
sical ear,’’ she said signiflScantly, “ is an index of 
a sympathetic soul. It produces a happy dispo- 
sition. If I could not sing at my work I should 
be cross and break ever so many dishes.” This 
caused quite a laugh among the visitors, but she 
was not invited to sing. 

Adelaid understood Harter perfectly, and sadly 
laid away the book. Sitting motionless for a 
minute, though not listening to the conversation. 


130 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


her trepidation was suddenly overcome. As if by 
magic, her fingers dropped down on certain chords, 
instantly bringing Harter to his feet. It wrenched 
his heart strings, as if with one word a criminal’s 
past had been exposed, again to hear them after 
they had almost been forgotten. Having so often 
entranced him they fell like a rebuke on his sensi- 
tive ear, and what more was he to hear? There 
was no mercy now for his feelings. Looking sadly 
at him during the following pause she suddenly 
plunged her fingers into the piano keys that 
drowned all conversation. Only old Mrs. Ward 
said in a high stage whisper to Mrs. Bellman : 
“ Too mean to make her feel like that, when she 
was doing her best.” She was no friend of Harter’s 
who was too curt in his replies to her endless 
gossip, and did not generally trade with him. 
Continuing her observations she added : “ You 
haven’t spoiled him any in his illness, not the 
least, there being nothing to spoil,” just as the 
forto-forto abruptly died away in a whisper of a 
pp., which confused her considerably, but Harter 
heard only the music and saw the fingers, as they 
revelled in the depth of sound to the fullest capac- 
ity of the old instrument. Eun followed run and 
the perfect motion of the hands seemed as if elec- 
trified, dropping the notes from her finger tips in 
pearly drops of sound. Now gliding over the keys 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


131 


as if the fingers were all hands full of fingers, 
seemingly not touching, yet softest music like 
echoes from ages past, poured forth the anguish 
of her soul ; now softly cooing pleadings of sopra- 
no, now answering lamentations in tremulous 
accents of the baritone; now impatient, cold, 
repelling, positive base. Wild bursts, and trills, 
and rhythmic cadences. The grand finis sweeping 
tempest like over the instrument, dying away in 
the distance. A hush succeeded, as if the mind 
still followed afar the last undulations of sound, 
which the ear cannot perceive, but Jhe spirit com- 
prehends, and then Adelaid bid all a good night. 

Long after the company had departed for home 
full of praise of the playing and the wonderful 
woman — “ not a bit stuck up,” said one — Harter 
sat motionless in the shadow of the lamp thinking 
of the music ; how well he knew the piece, and 
how often he had seen a pair of hands run over 
the keys that looked as twins to those he had so 
absorbedly watched tonight. He could almost 
believe they were the same ; and her features — 
as if in despair he took several rapid strides 
through the room — that red hair, so beautiful and 
lovely nevertheless seemed to mock him, and the 
terrors of that night was no dream. He could 
still hear her pitiful outcry for help which he 
refused till too late. Cold perspiration bathed his 


132 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


face, silent tears trickled down his cheeks, he put 
out the light to be entirely alone with his grief, 
and with only the rays of the moon lighting him 
in his search for yet another disappointment, an- 
other bitter hour. He seemed to gloat in harrow- 
ing up all the most disagreeable of his existence, 
from which at other times he wished to flee, 
efface all recollection. He indulged in bitter self- 
accusations, and he was the author of it all, for 
not listening to her pitiful pleading so forcibly 
reproduced tonight by a stranger’s talent. But 
every storm is succeeded by a calm, and when his 
memory’s fury wai spent Adelaid’s music brought 
to mind a song his wife had loved so well. And 
softly touching the instrument, to which he had 
become a stranger since that fatal night, he sang 
to the stillness of midnight, and to her, and 
of her ; it seemed as if her sweet voice was singing 
with his tenor, as she had so often done, and it 
soothed and calmed his grief burdened soul to 
imagine her spirit was hovering near. 0 could 
she hear the outpourings of his grief, his remorse, 
his sufferings all these years ; could forgive, though 
his skeptic nature dared not let him hope that a 
life hereafter was a truth. For her sake might it 
be so, for himself annihilation was preferable, 
though he almost feared a special dispensation to 
continue his misery for experimental purposes, 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


133 


if not for good, or punishment, might have been 
made. He had always been an experiment. 

You shudder at the thought of annihilation and 
after all there is nothing very appalling in it, if 
rationally considered. He contended that as his 
life had always been an uphill struggle — probably 
some mysterious influences at war over him, or 
the elements being improperly adjusted — he had 
never been without trouble, it would even continue 
hereafter. His aim was high, mediocrity would 
not satisfy — he had thrown his peg too far, and 
was not able to reach it. Life was a continual 
climbing of a sand hill, one foot slipping back 
as he raised the other to advance^ not to mention 
the unscrupulous by his side, who use the less 
aggressive as stepping stones to advance them- 
selves. 

What, therefore, had he to hope in a future 
existence that was but a continuation of the strug- 
gle ? Anniliilation on the other hand would com- 
pensate, give rest, while the more fortunate had 
no cause for complaint ; the creation was under 
no obligation to continue their good fortune. They 
had joy, happiness, success, which now ended. 
The less fortunate found their measure of joy in 
the contemplation of the approaching termination 
of their misery. He had often thought of this 
condition, and why should he not be able to prove 


134 


A MTSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


it to be the truth, — not to the world perhaps, but 
to himself — and what was the world and its foibles 
to a man who could calmly anticipate such an 
end of existence ? But he would find a way to 
satisfy his craving desire for light on a very dark 
subject. Thus were his thoughts jarring with his 
music, and it was well that to them he had no 
audience. No gallery to hoot at him, or to ap- 
plaud. Most likely the former, for few men under 
ordinary conditions would subscribe to his philos- 
ophy. Ignorance to use the world as you find it, 
is a leading cause, and you are out of tune, if you 
expect a higher valuation than you are willing to 
give. 

It may truly be said that beautiful music falls 
ever on appreciative ears, though the audience is 
invisible. The first chords Harter struck brought 
Adelaid to the window above. Her good, old friend, 
too, came in to listen to the song, and when the 
last sound of the subdued voice floated away on 
ether wings, and the lid of the piano was shut 
down, the old lady’s hand gently dropped on the 
girl’s shoulder whose head was leaning on the 
window sill. “ Its best notes were left i:i the east,” 
she said, “ and his voice sounds sad. For what 
are you waiting?” “I don’t know, dear, I fear 
we have still to wait over another night that may 
give us strength for another day.” 


A MYSTEHY EXPLAINED. 


135 


CHAPTEE V. 

“ The earth was made in six days,’' cynically 
said lawyer Sharp to Adelaid, as Harter entered 
the parlor. The callowness of the lawyer had often 
annoyed him, reflecting on the intelligence of the 
community, but he never was more put out than 
on hearing this hackneyed subject introduced. He 
hoped she would give no answer to a self evident 
fallacy, only a fi.gure, made to impose on the 
ignorant, or for want of a more intelligent inter- 
pretation. 

“I am reminded of a time when the subject 
was under discussion,” she replied listlessly, “ and 
the conviction gained ground, the universe being 
an ocean of neuro atmospheric molecular vibra- 
tion, the alchemy of the heavens, produces gases, 
the minutest divisibility of matter, which con- 
dense and become planets, and the process is not 
reducible to time limits. The existence of neuro 
atmosphere is demonstrated in the lightning and 
thunder during a storm ; artificially it is used as 
electricity. It holds a somewhat similar relation 
to the nerve centers of the animal creation as 


136 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINEJ). 


oxygen to the blood ; it furnishes neuro stimulus, 
and causes the babe to draw its first breath. No 
other agent may communicate its vibrations to 
the animal body ; dead muscle is caused to con- 
tract, as it is also the cause of numerous ailments 
to which every nervous, or rheumatic, or aged 
individual can testify, and when some day your 
brain will cease to react to its stimulating vibra- 
tions your friends will bury you.” 

“ Excuse me,” said the lawyer with an air of now 
I’ve got you in a comer, “how can an agent 
cause disease, if it also continues life ? ” 

Some of the bystanders laughed, having seen 
the lawyer with the same positive air confronting 
a witness. But Adelaid was not one to be con- 
fused. “The system in an abnormal condition 
(from other causes,) is disturbed by normal vib- 
rations ; or vice versa, a normal system is affected 
by retarded or increased velocity of vibrations, as 
too much food, or not enough, is a cause of dis- 
ease of the body. 

“ The old theory of attraction has the position 
of the sun for its centre of revolutions of the 
planets. And this is all the evidence that inert 
matter is possessed of an inherent force to cause 
its motion and attraction, and hold its position in 
the great procession through space. Every atom 
of matter must be a force, as the sun is supposed 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


137 


to be a force, by which to acquire planetary mo- 
tion. Force must be inherent in matter, though 
it is inert substance subject to extraneous force 
in the development of chemical energy. If on 
the other hand the sun was possessed of a force 
to attract, and cause the planet’s motion it would 
prevent their formation, diverting the molecules of 
matter to itself from their earliest inception — 
proof that no such attractive force exists.” 

Sharp pointed to a piece of soft coal in the 
street, he was confident to have made a point, a 
dead certainty to upset such theories. “ I under- 
stand you, unfortunately you do not comprehend 
my idea. The latent energy in that coal can 
become active, or be set at liberty to operate on 
other matter, producing steam, for instance, but 
it is its decomposition by another agent. There 
is force, and there are different energies — the 
former never at rest and the latter latent. 

“As to rotation as cause of attraction, giving 
inert matter a force, on the prmciple of the dyn- 
amo, it leaves us without a cause of its origin. And 
the sun’s attractive force must cause two oppos- 
ing forces— rotation equivalent to centrifugal force, 
and its opposite, attraction — not only an impos- 
sibility, but it stands in effectiveness as nothing, 
since force subtracted from force leaves us at 
an even point. 


138 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


The gravitation law turns no wheel, and the 
sun’s suspension admits of no other explanation 
than as caloric opposed to gravitation. This hy- 
pothesis leaves us without a controlling force at 
the beginning, 

Kotation that produces no centrifugal force can 
only result from centripetal cause ; not attraction 
which must reside within, be a part of the atoms 
of matter. Eotation of centripetal cause is of 
molecular vibration, the force of the universe, it is 
chemical energy which cannot be molecular vibra- 
tion — as atomic division of matter is gaseous. 

The gravitation law is a speculation that fails 
to suggest how the myriad of matter is collected in 
localities, and where it came from, how it is sup- 
plied, what fills the vacancy caused by shrinkage 
where once greater space was occupied; but 
above all by what force was the great fire of the 
sun confined to its present limits, when space was 
filled with gases ? There are no indications that 
once all cosmos was on fire, and that it has 
shrunk to its present limitations of 887,036 miles 
in diameter, burning 500 miles deep, and 500 
miles high, for the last 17,000,000 years, and it 
is yet to continue for 22,000,000 years longer. 
What then shall posterity do for light and heat ? 

“ The heat and light of the sun are the equiva- 
lents of luminiferous ether vibrations, which is 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


139 


not a force and cannot convey force, nor can 
energy produced by a force itself become that 
force. 

“ The hypothesis of the laws of gravitation and 
attraction is based on numerous contradictions, 
as the position of the sun is not one of cause, but 
of effect. 

“ Nothing can be so erroneous as that space is 
a vacuum, yet it is occupied by attraction, the sup- 
posed force giving motion to cosmic bodies, which, 
for the absence of friction, once started would 
continue forever with undiminished velocity.” 

“ What set it in motion ? ” asked Sharp, showing 
that he had followed Adelaid’s lecture. 

“ That’s it ! That point is still undecided, and 
the thought of inert matter moving and the sus- 
pension of the cause has no effect, is not readily 
grasped. Yet space is filled with dust, meteo- 
rites, etc., to cause friction. 

“ The cause of celestial phenomenas is not of 
creation ; it always was, and there can be no ter- 
restrial experiments to prove cosmic processes, no 
imaginary centrifugal force requiring attraction 
to cause gravitation. 

“The creation of matter, the formation of 
planets, their revolutions, their course, the regu- 
larity of motion in the direction assigned, indicates 
one universal agent to shape and control it. 


140 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


” An agent the manifestation of physical action, 
the life principle of material existence, not subject 
to deviations, or limited in force, nor actuated by 
any other agency ; nor existing for special pur- 
poses, but producing all these results, as if by 
accident. 

“ The indications of the character of this force 
are not wanting, and proofs of its operations are 
readily at hand, yet little understood ; accident- 
ally it serves man in specialties, with unlimited 
capacity. 

“ The earth’s daily revolutions taking place, and 
no man knows, or feels that he is swinging 
through space at the rate of eighteen miles per 
second, when he is up or down, or hanging by his 
feet, if viewed from another planet, and no better 
explanation for not flying into space, save the 
contradictory hypothesis that he is attracted, or 
he gravitates, compels to doubt, and to search the 
universe for light. 

“ It was undoubtedly a more satisfying theory 
to believe the earth Avas flat, and required little 
thought to understand it; but succeeding ages 
have torn down these errors meeting in turn the 
same fate as investigation progressed. 

“ That an ether is diffused through space not 
identical with luminiferous ether, not obeying the 
laws of radiation, may be one of nature’s myste- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


141 


ries, as clear to future generations, as the light of 
the sun is at the present day ; and the wonder will 
be why centuries have passed in densest ignorance 
of laws which she could not show plainer in her 
works. 

“An ether which does not communicate its 
vibrations to special sense only, like the light wave 
to the eye, but conveying its impulses through 
the general nervous system of the body, circum- 
vents the organs of special design and makes the 
impression on the central sense direct ; it stimu- 
lates thought currents — the blind see without eyes, 
and the deaf hear ^without ears. It wafts life into 
being, vegetable and animal germ matter vibrates 
in unison with the currents ; on its ocean move 
worlds it connects two existences. Its name? 
Call it neuro sphere, or neuro ether, indicating its 
influence on the nerve, and brain ether. Of its 
existence we have as many proofs as of the wind 
which we only see by the objects it carries. 

“ Molecular vibration of neuro ether is physical 
force, the motive power of cosmic creations, carry- 
ing and rotating them on their course. The 
planet moves on ether vibrations, unlike clouds 
floating in the wind which moves with the object 
it carries, without vibrations to cause the current. 

“ Go to the levee of a river city and see the 
winds raise dust columns a hundred feet high. The 


14:2 A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 

invisible vibration currents of neuro ether with 
interfering currents produce and direct the planet's 
course. We may never learn the course of vibra- 
tion from the spiral waves of luminiferous ether, 
which the spectroscope reveals ; or of which elec- 
tricity has given distinct instances. Its counter- 
part, luminiferous ether is vibrated radially from 
the point of applied force — centrifugal vibration. 
The molecular neuro ether vibration is concen- 
tric — centripetal force. 

“ It is no mere hypothesis that molecular vibra- 
tion is the controlling force of the universe. The 
laws of gravitation is inertia set in motion by an- 
other force, as luminiferous ether is inert, set in 
motion by chemical action — the tallow candle — 
causing the centrifugal, radiating light wave. Con- 
centric vibration created the earth as the wind 
produced the dirt column ; the one by nature’s 
force, the other by opposing winds. The latter 
subside and their product is scattered. Molecu- 
lar vibration of neuro ether is without intermis- 
sion. It is the chemistry of the universe. Its 
vibrations are communicated to the molecules of 
elements attracting them to vibrate with the cur- 
rent, away from none, or less readily vibrating, 
with which they unite. Thus matter is decom- 
posed into gases which rotate from their earliest 
inception forming planets. Plants grow by molec- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


143 


ular vibration in the darkest places where luminif- 
erous ether never vibrates. 

“ If it is difficult to conceive a force of such 
magnitude it must be remembered that a mere 
spray may rend rocks, and the earth may tremble 
from its force, if gathering clouds retard its veloc- 
ity of vibration. And why does it not give us the 
light of the sun, where gases are concentrated, 
causing friction, heat, light, and thunder ? Con- 
centric vibration to form this hght and heat cen- 
tre seem far more probable than the old theory 
of the consumption of fuel. 

“Light ether is the centrifugal force of the 
centripetal vibration. Its velocity or length of 
wave is its conveying ether. The tallow candle 
has not the strength in the sunlight to add to 
the latter’s velocity, but at night its combus- 
tion produces sufficient force to cause the centrif- 
ugal light wave. 

“ Luminiferous ether not being a force may be 
at rest which is darkness. Neuro ether is never 
at rest. It is the element of life, and life is 
motion, and objects not under its influence must 
be dead, or inert substance, responding only to 
chemical vibration.” 

Harter sat motionless intently absorbing what 
Adelaid said. It might have been the newness 
of her theory struggling for lodgment ; or was 


144 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


he debating some momentous question to ask? 
Was her rambling talk a surprise to him, or was 
here a verification of Bellman’s floating thoughts 
assimilated coincidentally by two brains ? Or w^as 
it the speaker for herself he followed so closely, 
and who would not have been interested, though 
not a word of what she said was understood? 
There'was a far away look in her eyes full of deter- 
mination, when she turned towards Harter, and 
her smile, as she made some new point was not 
her usual buoyant happiness. Did she realize 
she was shaking an apple tree bearing the fruit of 
tradition, and might yet get many a bump on the 
head before the last had followed the obsolete 
laws of gravitation ? Perhaps it was for this that 
Harter was concerned, and aunty was distressed, 
knowing what effort these lectures cost her. As 
for the lawyer, he looked puzzled around the room 
as for one who might interpret this for him. 
Some one asked if he was preparing a demurrer. 
To turn off the laugh he replied, he was waiting 
to hear where the magnet of his old geography 
would find a place. 

“ The theory of the magnet is well understood,” 
said Adelaid. “A wire from a battery in opera- 
tion that runs across a steel bar incites a return 
current which forms the circuit of molecular 
vibration. Attraction is caused by currents of 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


145 


vibration of an ether. There can he no attraction 
where there is no medium conveying it. If we 
suppose an ether current from the sun to the 
planet there is nothing can prevent its being 
drawn into it, for a repelling force must be a 
counter current (opposite polarity) which cannot 
exist at the same instance, any more than two 
trains of cars can pass over the same track in 
opposite directions at the same time. 

“ If attraction to the center of the earth at the 
equator is equal to centrifugal force, they cannot 
stand in the same relation nearer the central axis 
at the poles, where the latter stands as nothing to 
only thirteen miles less, the distance to the centre. 
A stone weighing one pound at the equator must 
stand as two without a centrifugal opposing force 
to attraction at the poles. Experiment shows 
only a gain of one pound to a weight of one hun- 
dred and ninety five. But the poles are no more 
in motion than the centre of the earth, a total ab- 
sence of centrifugal force opposed to the attrac- 
tion at the equator. There is no better proof in 
support of centripetal force. 

“ Space is one vast vibrating etherial ocean 
with its concentric swirl for every planet moving 
in its currents of vibration. Satelites are held 
on the edges of the concentric centripetal force 
of the planet. You might express it as in troughs 


146 


A MTSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


caused by the planet’s waves. An illustration of 
the currents of cosmos was witnessed during a 
recent illness. The currents of air in the room 
seemed to be an imitation of what is going on in 
the heavens, the planets of lint, long and short, 
floated from the register towards the window op- 
posite at an even altitude, where, striking a cooler 
current they made an eliptical turn, disappear- 
ing on the further dark side of the room. The 
cooler current near the window dropped down 
from one moving nearer the ceiling in the same 
direction. Such stratas of currents of vibration 
must exist in space, in a medium not affected by 
expansion and contraction like air. It is the only 
logical explanation, and presents the devious rota- 
tions of the planetary system understandingly. 
Accepting this theory we can account for phen- 
omense which have hitherto existed without known 
or explainable cause. 

“ The theory of attraction has no basis even to 
imagine it. The only terrestrial experiment, the 
magnet, can only attract at a limited distance — it 
has no attractive force away from a conducted 
current. 

“ This was the explanation given and earthly 
renown availed not against it. It was a new" 
revelation, and like the musician whose ideas of 
mortal grandeur led him to the highest aspira- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


U1 


tions, be was overcome by bis emotions.” Adelaid 
made preparations to retire with aunty to tbe 
privacy of tbeir rooms, but a cborus of voices clam- 
orously entreated ber for tbe story of tbe musi- 
cian. One of tbe boarders asked a question to 
wbicb sbe replied : “ I cannot tell you wbo it was, 
or when, it might have been a thousand years ago, 
or a hundred. I have a dim. remembrance of 
tbe scene, you might call it an impression; 
or the details were related in my presence, as 
sometimes happens to children wbo in after life 
imagine they were eye witnesses. Wbo related 
tbe incident, and why tbe world has not beard 
from tbe one possessed of this knowledge I cannot 
answer you.” 

The last words seemed especially addressed to 
Harter whose lips lit up with a faint smile. Did 
sbe inspire him with security in tbe possession of 
a secret, wbicb sbe might have obtained by occult 
processes at tbe moment of utterance? Some 
such thought may have crossed bis mind, but Mr. 
Bellman, as if jealous of tbe faintest ray of hope 
could not be convinced by ber argument to tbe 
displeasure of those wbo wanted to bear ber talk, 
and it was necessary to settle him, which Adelaid 
never hesitated to do when be had exhausted ber 
patience. 

“ It is bard for Mr, Bellman to be convinced 


148 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


against his will,” she said to the hoarders. “ He 
makes the most strenuous effort not to believe the 
more his argument does not carry conviction. 
He is in that not unlike the rest of his confreres, 
especially one whose lectures, however, I only 
know from newspaper extracts — ^notably at the 
grave of his brother, letter to a lady at the death 
of her child. These people remind me of a man 
in a bog. Shifting from one foot to the other 
which has gained a little hummock, in turn to go 
down while reaching for another tuft of grass, to 
keep from sinking altogether, with every effort 
getting deeper in the mire ; for having nothing on 
which to stand they are ever fisliing for a delusive 
hummock, a few spears of grass in the vain hope 
there is solid ground underneath. With heaven 
at his elbow he is persistently crying out to scare 
it away, lest his amaurotic eye should pierce the 
fog, densest closest by — should it lift a ray of 
light is most unwelcome. So wrapt is man in 
his own greatness nothing exists, but Ins little 
idea of what he is, of what he knows — his alpha 
and omega. 

“ The high art orchestration of cultivated ambi- 
tion is far removed from nature’s harmony, and 
over trained weakness is the more readily perceiv- 
able in discord, lest daily practice does support 
it. But technique and training go with the ma- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. * 


149 


estro, and are not infrequently the music. This 
one, like Mr. Bellman, had to have an experience 
that caused him many years of thinking to rally 
the soul from the spirit of man, a salutary strug- 
gle never failing to be profitable. 

“ Meeting a friend he confided to him his desire 
to organize a capella, if he met with encourage- 
ment. ‘ There must be good material here and 
an abundance of it,’ he casually remarked, when 
the friend interrupted : 

“ ‘ Don’t, Felix, don’t make a fool of yourself ; 
come to a concert with me to night, and we’ll talk 
it all over.’ 

“There was something singular about their 
friendship, for the new comer called Felix seemed 
to be familiar with his friend, yet he had no pre- 
vious knownledge of him. Moreover, the elder 
man had the disagreeable advantage in knowing 
Felix’s whole life and the limitations of his capa- 
city, which was, to say the least, horridly uncom- 
fortable, having too much the effect of chaperon 
over the weaknesses of a protege. ‘ Yes, and why 
not please the friend,’ he thought, ‘ and for once 
attend a concert where he was not the central fig- 
ure ? ’ He hoped he should not be recognized in 
the audience. Tliis, too, the friend seemed to 
understand, but he made no comments. 

“ They arrived late, for Felix was not accus- 


150 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


tomed to fatiguing exercise, only the closing piece 
remained to reward them for their labor. The 
surprise as unexpectedly the myriad audience, 
face on face, beaming with joyful expectation, sud- 
denly fell on his vision, was overwhelming, sur- 
passing the friend’s anticipation; many seemed 
familiar to liim, and under his astonished gaze 
they became old friends. He recognized great 
musicians in the audience who showed no embar- 
rassment. His surprise knew no bounds, the 
scene was so new, and so grand, unexpected, he 
stood bewildered, and stupified. The momentary 
pause seemed expressly for their benefit — drink 
all in, it said, as the friend touched him on the 
elbow, and they took seats as if reserved for them. 

“ In that moment he recognized lus nothing- 
ness, his j)ride and vanity born of earthly suc- 
cesses and flattery, stood rebuked in all its naked- 
ness. To have aspired to leadership where he 
could not follow was too humiliating to conceal. 
But for the friend he should have fled before 
sound of voice or instrument had reached his 
mortified soul. A sympathizing glance of the 
companion reassured him, seeming to say, we all 
have seen ourselves divested of earthly glitter and 
had nothing left us. Here before the master we 
are as children in the dust who must await his 
bidding. 


A aiYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


151 


“ The audience was seated in circles around the 
orchestra extending as far as the eye could see, 
faces diminisliing, but not losing in distinctness 
by distance. In front and rear of him a vast sea 
of joyful listeners, and none sat in the rear of 
the musicians, for they were also placed in circles 
facing the audience. Each voice or intsrument 
in a different alternate circle. The more cent- 
ral circles for a ' chorus of children, the soprano 
outside of these, then tenor, contraldo, baritone, 
and bass, and more instruments. The beaming, 
joyful countenances of the audience seemed like 
the reflection of the angelic radiance animating 
the performers. But the central figure, the direc- 
tor, surpassed all his vision could comprehend ; 
nor was he quite clear, if there was one or more, 
or if it was simply reflected radiance focused 
there, but with the first sound he perceived came 
the understanding : ‘ The throne of God ! ’ 

“ They sang : 

‘ Gloria, gloria, to the Lord ’ — as of silver string 
Children’s voices from the inner circle sing : — 
In the light his children dwell. 

Sings soprano, joins the tenor. 

Heaven’s praise to swell ; 

And the bass on outer ring 

Sings gloria to God His angels bring ; 


152 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


Echoes the chorus with orchestral sound, 
Echoes bugle blast, as song goes ’round. 

Gloria ! Sing they all in chord and run. 
Heaven is where Heaven’s deeds are done ; 

Is where Heaven’s light divine 
Over all His children shines. 

“ ‘ This is the band that needs no leader,’ whis- 
pered the friend. The ineffable beauty of the vis- 
ion was the radiant light in the countenances of 
the performers, darting hither and thither, from 
radius to radius, from centre to circumference, 
as the note shifted, like the wave in a grain field, 
heavy with the delight of the husbandman. 

“As to the music, can mortal man describe or 
comprehend it ? ” Adelaid’s voice dropped to a 
whisper, and the room full of people hanging 
breathlessly on her words reminded me of the time, 
when a crowd of noisy children, we listened with 
awe to a gruesome ‘ daemmerstunde ’ story of our 
elders, which made our hair stand on end, and 
none dared go out in the dark alone. 

“ In the first notes,” she continued, “ he recog- 
nized familiar strains from ‘ Midsummer Night’s 
Dream, Songs Without Words,’ scraps of the 
‘ Wedding March ;’ but, ah, why were they dropped 
as if it had been a mistake ? Not a passage to the 
finish — surpassed by more sublime music. Again 
the friend whispered in a pause, as if anticipating 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


153 


the question : ‘ Only the best awakens an echoe 
here. Mediocrity finds no hearing.’ Ah, he sighed, 
and this was all the good he had accomplished ? 
How insignificant ! But he had no time for sad 
reflections, for there was the ‘Magic Flute, L’Ar- 
go,’ and numerous other familiar morceau, more 
or less fragmentary, but, oh, so differently treated, 
he had never understood them as now; inter- 
spersed and succeeded by variations and song, 
exalted, of heavenly grandeur ! Now struggling, 
and sad, each note breaths a tear, now wailing, 
and dying away in whispers, now floating in bill- 
owy waves of joy — ‘ the song of life,’ the friend 
whispered. The vocalists take the song from the 
instruments — the light wave of happiness darting 
hither and thither with the music — hearing and 
seeing enjoy a feast. A thousand voices perfected 
in one, ten thousand instruments blended in har- 
mony — ’tis the music of heaven. 

“Temptation, disappointment, the sorrows of 
earth have passed away, and pride stands rebuked, 
’tis the simple enjoyment of music, celestial life 
may begin. ‘ Let no earthly discord disturb me,’ 
he whispers, ‘lest I may lose the heavenly 
ecstasy ! ’ Many years the enchanted musician 
said the same, when the friend who had been 
absent, again asked him : ‘ Let us go to a greater 
concert tonight ’ — he willingly followed.” 


154 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


CHAPTEE VI. 

For several days Adelaides entertaining and 
instructive conversations were missed by more 
than one who had been of her attentive audience ; 
but her slight indisposition was better now, she 
and her aunt were returning from a walk, and 
found Harter in the parlor suffering with a head- 
ache. So much noise at the store, he said, and 
the strong light, he was not yet able to stand it all 
day. Aunty was full of sympathy, for nothing 
was more distressing than the affliction which she 
knew so well from personal experience. Adelaid 
gently placed her cool hand on his forhead and 
in a few minutes he thanked her for the relief 
she had given him. “ By your mystic touch you 
have equalized the fluidum so much talked about 
and so little understood. Is n’t that your expla- 
nation of the process of cure ? ” he asked looking 
smilingly in her face, but he was surpised not to 
receive the old stereotyped answer. 

“ Your nerves were in an abnormal condition, 
and I have succeeded in allaying the irritation. 
We rub a hurt from a blow, or press away a neu- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


155 


ralgic pain, not even requiring the assistance of 
the imagination, commonly supposed to be indis- 
pensible, which, though it may sooth the mind 
sometimes, it cannot relieve the congestion.” 

The popular belief being that the magnetic fluid 
is equalized by a new influx from another’s hand, 
he was much surprised, with her explanation, and 
said : “ I infer you have studied medicine ? “ 

“ 0, no, I am only repeating a theory of a dear 
friend,” she said, with difficulty controlling her 
agitated voice ; “ but if stimulating your debili- 
tated nerve centres beyond their normal capacity 
by neuro vibrations is the better pathology, what 
is more rational than building a pier, behind which 
the ship may ride out the storm ? Our coming 
in you see broke the storm, or mental oppressive- 
ness, around you. Your sensitive, overstrained 
nerves found a rest from thinking — and, lo, the 
ship rides on tranquil waters — they have regained 
their equilibrium.” 

For a minute he seemed lost in thought, then 
peering through the shadow protecting her feat- 
ures he startled her with the question, if she had 
any relatives in U. 

“ To me the whole world seems related,” she 
replied evasively. “ I have so many experiences 
and impressions in common with other people I 
often marvel how they come to me. Things and 


156 A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 

persons are familiar to me today, as if I had 
known them for years, of which I had no knowl- 
edge yesterday. Like people we see in dreams — 
we hear them, w^e know them, and comprehend 
what they say, but we cannot place them, or call 
them by name, nor do we understand the language 
they have spoken. They are ethereal realities of 
an existence of which we cannot take physical 
cognizance.” 

“ Mental cognizance,” he corrected. 

“ It amounts to the same since the mental ap- 
pertains only to the physical organization,” replied 
Adelaid. “ The physical senses receive an impres- 
sion wliich to the eye means intercepted vibra- 
tions of the light wave by an object, resulting in 
the outlines of the shadow vibration on the phys- 
ical senses provided to receive them, thence being 
conveyed to the brain, and cognizance takes place. 
The mental process is the comparison of impres- 
sions thus received; the process effecting the 
vibration of a particular object caused, present! og 
it in form, size, and color, is memory. It is but 
the alternate reproduction of former impressions; 
the will decides — gives the preference.” 

“ You evidently do not believe in total annihi- 
lation,” he said with a leering expression. 

“ No, and I hope you don’t,” she answered, as 
if a matter of no interest to her, then added in 


A ^rrSTERY EXPLAINED. 


157 


answer to his question : “ I don’t knoAv of any 

relatives living in U., and yet there may he with 
generations between. There may be relatives in 
other parts of the world, for thoughts and occur- 
rences have at times forced themselves upon me, 
and especially of late, which I cannot locate in 
this country nor in the present generation ; nor 
can they be the outgrowth of reading. You smile, 
perhaps think I labor under religious or psychic 
delusions, but you must consider that the chrysalis 
only changes its form, its presence is right with 
us. Can you say that the worm never existed in 
any other form ? You crush it and see nothing 
more of it. Its ancestor also may have perished, 
but you did not see it reappear in the worm, your 
own perceptions being limited to the present 
condition. 

^‘Sometimes I read an article, or hear something 
related, and almost at the beginning I know its 
import, though bent solely on reading. I seem 
only to read to verify it. I am not guessing, for 
that is thinking. Am I consciously reading, un- 
consciously thinking ? Or does my mental self 
break loose from physical restraints and take 
it in at a glance ? Since I certainly cannot read, 
or listen, and my mental self clairvoyantly go on 
a rampage ahead of the reading, there must be 
an independent existence around impressing me 


158 


A SiYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


with the import of the subject, and that would 
necessitate a condition of the understanding cap- 
able of receiving such impressions without dis- 
turbing the physical senses. And why are not 
beings in existence who have sometime been vis- 
ible, may come into that state again ? ” 

“ Why should there be a necessity for indepen- 
dent existences around you ? ” asked Mr. Bellman 
just entering the room. “ May it not be a float- 
ing thought attracted by your own mind? It 
must necessarily be the thought of what you read. 
The author, or disseminator of it has not only 
committed the thought to paper, but in thinking 
it has set it adrift. Space is filled with them, it 
is the only explanation how the same idea is often 
taken up by different men in different countries, 
here and there being attracted by one who is in a 
receptive condition. It is the only way man can 
produce new thoughts, and the thinker need not 
be ashamed to have appropriated another’s. He 
is really the originator, as much as any prede- 
cessor, since his mind shows kinship, there is no 
plagiarism in that.” 

Harter scanned Adelaid’s placid features with 
an amused, leering look which plainly said, “what 
will you do with him ? ” but the speaker seemed 
to feel that he had advanced an unconquerable 
argument. All eyes were upon her, and for the 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


159 


first time she wavered, they thought, surrendered 
to the enemy ; but it was only for a moment she 
had the appearance of being lost in thought, when 
she promptly replied : 

“ You entirely lose sight of the character of 
a thought. The human voice in its vibrations of 
the atmosphere to produce sound, is an illustration 
of the physical demonstration of the vibrations of 
the brain ether, which must precede it to influence 
the muscles for the purpose ; and on the other 
hand, the brain ether must be vibrated by the ob- 
ject to receive its impression. A thought, there- 
fore, is represented by a vibration. How long 
would a vibration endure sent out in space ? The 
ripple of a mill pond dropped mid ocean would 
amount to a tidal wave in comparison ; and a 
vibration would not reach the edges on the placid 
surface of a teacupful of water without their nat- 
ural conduits, the brain and nerves. How far 
does the human voice travel before it is lost ? 
How long after the force has ceased could a 
thought vibrate another’s senses ? We know full 
well the laws governing the vibrations of ether. 
Thoughts perish in transit, if measurable by time, 
die out by distance, have no existence, if not 
within reach of their objective point, the natural, 
physical organs created to receive them, the mo- 
ment they are uttered. Throw a stone in the 


160 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


water and the wave is met by others and oblit- 
erated. 

“ Objectively we keep thoughts alive by charac- 
ters invented for the purpose; but without the 
lively imagination of the reader they are stupid 
representatives of the living thought. Your float- 
ing thoughts are so utterly dead they are beyond 
the possibility of resurrection by the liveliest 
imagination — or the greatest liar living/’ she 
added after a pause looking straight at Mr. Sharp, 
which caused a general titter among the boarders. 

“ We also know,” she continued, “ that thought 
ether vibrates centripetally — through the senses 
towards a centre causing consciousness in the 
focus of vibration. Man cannot only not vibrate 
brain ether from a central point — centrifugally — 
therefore cannot originate thought; he cannot 
vibrate brain ether at all, it being due solely to 
objects — through the senses — and the ether vibra- 
tions, as the force which operates centripetally — 
but not to will, as commonly mistaken.” 

“ I do not quite understand,” said the minister 
dubiously, “if our thoughts are vibrations and 
memory a rejDroduction of these, why we should 
not run short of different velocities, and associ- 
tions, and hit the impressions which something 
else has made — get things mixed ? ” 

“ There are but seven notes in music, and the 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


161 


compositions run into the millions, and no two 
are alike,” said Adelaid promptly. 

“ Ketuming to my reading, does my spirit step 
out, metaphorically speaking, between lines or 
thoughts ? ” 

Harter here interrupted her : “ But that would 
mean a dissolving of matter into nothing, imagin- 
ing an existing condition away, or breaking the 
natural ties of the spirit with the physical body, 
laying aside the matrix of the soul that it may 
step forth to interview Heaven, perchance, or the 
imaginary beings in charge of it, in opposition to 
the laws of molecular vibration. Heaven cannot 
materialize a hand extended to a droTOing man, 
or work miracles, setting aside those laws, or con- 
trol them dijfferently. 

“ If man is spirit in physical envelopment he 
cannot be crowded out of it in violence of the im- 
mutable, the lines of which are clear and well 
defined ; there is no mistaking them, no calling 
them by another name to sers^e a fad, another 
force which does not exist. No prayers avail 
against those laws, for they are fixed, unalterable. 
The universe would crumble to fragments, there 
would be the end of time. 

“Organizable matter must obey those laws 
which vibrate it into life, appropriating to a 
limited degree the non vibratmg mineral, or earthy 


162 


A MYSTEEY EXPLAINED. 


substances. The latter can have but chemical 
activity without such assimilation. And there ^ 
can be no other agency to which physical deca- 
dence is assignable, or animal life can be indebted ; 
yet the former condition taking the place of the 
latter in harmony therewith is that state, that 
chemical change, which alone can release the 
soul, leaving no chance to continue, or again 
resume the latter, once interrupted, or even only 
the nonsensical ‘projected.’” 

“ What is a fad,” interrupted Mr. Bellman, “ is 
not the whole spiritual existence a delusion ? The 
opposite view that nothing is real, can be extended 
to this.” 

Disdaining to reply to this, Harter continued : 
“ You cannot go on a clairvoyant rampage, since 
no such mental occupation can be indulged, for 
this again is in opposition to those laws already 
mentioned. It is not the eye goes out to meet the 
light ; nor does the ear go to the music — vibrating 
light ether meets the eye, as sound is carried to 
the ear ; and the anaemic, clairvoyant brain in its 
hypersthenic condition lies dormant, a prey to 
the vibrating impulses of neuro ether to set its 
brain ether in motion with impressions of scenes 
and objects from far and near, past, present, and 
future.” 

It is always a pleasure to listen to a woman 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


163 


who has ideas and the ability to express them, 
and it was now Adelaid’s turn to meet Harter. 
Men are fortunate to be thrown in such company, 
it raises their estimate of her sex, and other 
women of less ability must perceive that their 
narrow circle is not the limit beyond which they 
must not, conveniently have no wish to aspire. 
She was never at a loss for avenues of escape, 
and her triumphs were not marked by exulting 
vanity. Her superior advantages made her a 
giant among these people, only one refused to be 
classed with the rest, and she not only defered to 
his judgement, but her remarks were usually ad- 
dressed to him. 

“ My answer to your question, Mr. Harter, will 
probably become clearer by an illustration,” said 
Adelaid. “ I have an indistinct recollection, or 
impression, if you like that better, of scenes which 
I discover nowhere in this country, which must 
have existed hundreds of years ago. I see high 
castle walls on an elevated mountain range, a sil- 
very stream threading its winding course through 
green meadows far below in the valley — 0, so 
beautiful — as w^e clhldren would longingly look 
through the narrow windows, mere slits in the 
walls, watching for the appearance of the first 
green of spring, while yet drifts of snow were 
visible in sheltered nooks. Just across the valley 


164 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


densely wooded slopes reach skyward, here jutting 
forward to hide the limpid waters of the stream, 
there receding to bring it fully into view, and to 
expand the meadow land. On my right, down 
stream, I have a birdseye view of the nearest vil- 
lage with its five steepled church ; green fields and 
meadows, and villages too numerous to count, 
till the great, old Eoman tower twelve miles away 
arrests the eye. Its consort, the Eoman convent 
stands lonely by its side on the towering range of 
liills, beyond the confluence of the two streams. 
Nearer on the left bank, high to skyward, I see 
the ruins of a neighboring castle — perhaps one of 
the outposts in the powerful Eoman province, the 
first to fall before the enemy reformation. Nu- 
merous mill wheels splash merrily round and 
round aU along the valley. The great, lazy water 
wheel at my feet stands stock still now, its serv- 
ices not being required to wrest the butter cups 
from the drying rays of the sun. On the chause 
which tries to dodge the meadows and the stream, 
winding its way along the foot of the hill, I see 
the lumbering, yellow post wagon pass up and 
down. It is here where the feudal robber relieved 
the traveling merchant of what a rapacious neigh- 
bor had left him, for all must pay tribute who 
pass through his domain. On my left up stream 
green fields and meadows alternate with forrests 


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II 




A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


165 


on mountain side, in many localities dotted with 
village and burgh as far as the eye can see. Just 
through the forrest trees, surrounding the castle, 
I discern the roof and spire of a chapel standing 
on the brink of a precipice ; and the oldest inhab- 
itant, or the shepherd of the village nestling oppo- 
site in an amphitheatre formed in a depression of 
the hills, may still give you the history of its build- 
ing, and reason for the selection of the unusual 
site for a chapel and cemetery, though it all 
happened many generations ago. The brighter 
of the urchins in the street, too, may tell you, if 
he is not afraid to go to bed in the dark, and the 
old man, after taking a Schnapps from your flask 
which every traveler is supposed to carry with 
him, relates the same story he heard his father 
and grand father tell. It is gruesome enough, no 
need of adding more to it. ‘ The chapel was to 
be built on a nice garden site at the edge of the 
village, half a mile from the present location, but 
when the large, hev/n stone drawn in the day 
were mysteriously removed over night to the 
precipice across the river many feet perpen- 
dicularly upw^ard, above the rusliing stream below, 
with neither road for w^hcel, nor four footed beast 
to climb to its elevated perch, it caused conster- 
nation among the people ; for there was not the 
rumble of wheel, the neighing of horse, nor the 


166 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


creak of derrick ever heard in the nocturnal 
transportation of the material. And none dared 
to be brave enough longer to oppose powers 
leagued with darkness against the wishes of the 
people. It was more than whispered that the 
owner of the village site often had nocturnal visi- 
tors who did not have to enter by the door, but 
those who had once had a sight of the chimney at 
such a time never hankered for another, though 
they never would tell what they saw. Every cliild 
knew that his grain was threshed in the night, and 
nobody had heard a flail, that somebody’s cow 
died just as he came along — hand him your flask 
again and he can also tell you what a horrible 
death he had.’ It is still the same story in the 
valley of the Hauna, which was told generations 
ago, not losing in gruesomeness, for it was just 
too awful to add to, or curtail it.” A sigh seemed 
to relieve Adelaid’s heaving bosom, and she con- 
tinued: “Beautiful play grounds within castle 
walls, merry making and revelry — grim soldiers 
in armor with huge battle axes guarding the gates 
— ^\Vild despair, all darkness and hunger, suffoca- 
tive air, crying of the young and helplessness of 
the elder, huddled together in underground pas- 
sages — Smoking ruins, only the bare walls stand- 
ing, dead and dying every where. The scene 
changes. A deep ravine, a small buiding, and a 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


167 


large wheel slowly turning outside, a babling brook 
coming out of it, which does not flow when the 
former stands still, as some of us children would 
have it. 

“ Clairvoyant, you say ? ” She shook her. head. 
“Ah, no! What is clairvoyancy ? A diseased, 
debilitated man or woman, or an abnormally 
developed nervous system, utter want of will 
power. I am in perfect physical health. Hyp- 
notism can only be practiced on the enervated. 
Charcot and his imitators, may practice on dis- 
eased, hysteric women, make them do this, or 
that, there is no science in that, psychology will 
not be enriched by their experiments. You could 
not impress me with past ages. You may explain 
it as I have done, when a spirit of disbelief came 
over me : Some unknown cause, as in dreams, 
producing vibrations communicated to my brain, 
has left this effect. When I feel thus iconoclas- 
tic this answers well enough, but it is like demol- 
ishing with rhetoric the ornamental idols of the 
church without being able to replace them with 
an ordinary tomb stone. 

“ Such arguments do not satisfy, the explana- 
tion is stupid. The will power being dormant, a 
sluggish blood corpuscle pressing on the brain 
centres does not explain, and I must assume that 
at some period or other, I have been an actor in 


108 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


those scenes ; that they have been lying dormant 
till the proper velocity of vibrations correspond- 
ing with memory’s pebbled suface, brushed them 
out from among the cobwebs of ages agone. 

“ The causes of such resurrections of memor- 
ized events may not be easily understood, I have 
thought much on the subject, and while I believe 
locality and surroundings have an influence, neuro 
atmospheric causes are the medium from which 
emanate our impulses. But that is a subject for 
another lecture,” she said smilingly. “ I will not 
say another word, tea is ready, and Mr. Harter 
looks very tired. I shall never forgive myself for 
talking so much.” Followed by the old lady she 
passed upstairs, and the boarders rushed, way 
western style, into the dining room. 

“ How could I betray myself to bring up that 
subject,” said Adelaid, as the door closed behind 
them. 

“ And say such foolish things,” dryly replied her 
aunt. 

“Not all foolish,” said Adelaid. “I will go 
down and take a cup of tea, when all are gone,” 
and stretching herself on the lounge, as if very 
tired, the cool, practical logician of a few minutes 
ago was again only a woman whose smiles at the 
various effects her arguments had on her listeners 
could not repress a tear. None in the hum of 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED, 


169 


voices discussing her in the dining room could 
know what she went through relating the historic 
facts in her possession ; nor why without premed- 
itation she should be led onto the subject, per- 
haps give only pain and mystify. 

Her easy triumph in an atmosphere so foreign 
to her station, might have flattered, if not too 
painfully reminding her that she was condemned 
to live this unreal life, and talk it too, the merest 
pretense of what she was accustomed to enjoy, 
which had ceased to be enjoyment — a torture 
rather, to be endured East or West. But there 
was the hope of eventually recovering what she 
had lost. As for the argument she was glad to 
have had the opportunity to squelch Bellman, for 
whose theories she had a particular dislike. If he 
liad little chance for individual mischief, in general 
it had no beneficial effect ; for if it does not make 
a deterring difference in the end, it often has its 
influence on the life of a man, and he who winks 
at mischief is apt to have fewer scruples doing 
it. She sighed, and wondered at her impulsive- 
ness, and wept. She was very nervous. 

Aunty remained but a few minutes at the table 
where her presence held the louder, rougher ele- 
ments in check, but the freedom of speech of such 
a place — ^wild, west, and wilful — was now freely 
exercised. Their various views were expressed 


170 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


with a candor and positiveness that was startling 
and amusing in view of the fact there were not 
more than one or two who had an inkling of what 
she said. It fell especially to Sharp’s lot to inter- 
pret the meaning of her historical illustration. 

“Yes, gentlemen,” he added with a flourish, 
“ there is no telling what pretty young lady may 
he your great grand mother.” It caused a great 
laugh which was interrupted by Eoni’s voice say- 
ing : “ A stab in the back must after all be a poor 
compensation to a gentleman for a supposed slap 
in the face, of which a lady is incapable.” The 
color of his face indicated his inner storm and 
only a few tittered. One witty fellow suggested : 
“ More mind reading,” which caused laughter, but 
the lawyer made no answer. Harter, too busy 
with his own thoughts, missed the drift of the 
suggestion, asked : “ Whose mind did she read ? ” 
And again the smile went round. “ Nor can these 
scenes have emigrated to tliis country,” he said. 
He did not know the details of the picture, but 
the family history made it familiar, and the idea 
haunted him that he himself had made the revel- 
ation. Not that he considered Adelaid an im- 
poster, he had not thought so far, but had he in 
his delirium revealed his identity, could he have 
talked of the foreign land, and scenes ? Full of 
thoughts on this subject he hurried to his store. 


A MTSTEKY EXPLAIKED. 


in 


CHAPTEB VIL 

The strange, new doctrine never heard before 
in Blight produced a sensation in the small com- 
munity which dated its religion back to ancient 
history, untainted by this age of skepticism. 
Creeds that reject Bible teaching as the comer 
stone of faith, and still claim to be Christian, were 
hardly known by name. Confined to the narrow- 
est ruts, their receptive capacity limited, what 
wonder that minister and deacons should tremble 
for their orthodoxy? This new doctrine upset all 
their reckonings, was a hindrance to religious 
progress — that is, progress in revival work, in- 
crease in membership, and revenue, increased 
intolerance. Not progress in more light on their 
teachings ; the origin and destination of man. 

What is salvation? What is God? Are we 
like microbes, chemical products ? Did their God 
create the chemistry of the heavens? Their 
mystic Father, Son, and Holy Ghost will always 
prevail. They were not to be solved by minister's 
progress, nor by skeptic's derision. Vain man, 
how dare you question the Creator's purposes. 


112 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


It is not for thee to know, does not Scripture teach 
us that ? The Creator of the universe is the same 
God today the fishermen of Galilea could under- 
stand, the Jesus of Nazareth preach. 

Modern philosophy is audacious to claim that a 
new Bible is being written — ^the narrow limits of 
the old teach only of a personal God. The 
truly orthodox mind is appalled at the very men- 
tion of this woman’s ideas as sacrilegious, blas- 
phemous. She W'as to be shunned as the evil 
she preached, they deplored such talents thrown 
away on so erroneous a doctrine — unwomanly to 
teach. 

Adverse criticism caused Adelaid no sorrow, the 
liberal minded sided with her as they would be 
sure to do with anything opposed to orthodoxy ; 
not that their sympathies were enlisted in her 
ideas, whose w^ould, except the eccentric and gul- 
lible, believing this today and some other fad to- 
morrow. They had the best of the argument, for 
none could say aught against her, personally, or 
that she had any ulterior object in view; she was 
even reticent in expressing herself. 

And what had she said ? To sift it down none 
really knew. Harter, the only man who could 
hold an argument, seemed alone to understand 
her. He was called an infidel not because he 
expressed his disbelief, for none knew what he 


A MYSTEEt EXPLAINED. 


178 


believed ; he was a German, and not much of a 
loss to the church. His salvation was in his own 
hands. 

Adelaid was not a religious dreamer by nature, 
nor a proselytor with a small stock of set phrases, 
ever bringing the fad to the front. She talked on 
metaphysical subjects with reluctance, but the 
days hung heavily on her hands, it was a relief 
when the evening meal came round to find some 
one with an intelligent question to ask. That the 
hotel at times seemed to be converted into a tem- 
ple of philosophy and learning, was not her fault, 
although such discussions rarely took place in her 
absence. The men wanted to talk to her, but she 
would not enter into discussion with the un- 
formed, or the uninformed, for she was no friend 
of levitous banter as she frequently heard at table 
by an element wliich she avoided. She did not 
speculate on the subject of reincarnation, and was 
not offended for meeting with incredulity. She 
had an object in the narration of historical facts, 
as well as resorting to it to elucidate her argument. 
She never introduced philosophy in the presence 
of only women, and avoided emotional admiration. 
“ Pap is the real nourishment for babes,’’ she said. 
“ Women may do well at some simple subject like 
temperance, but she generally makes a goose of 
herself when dabbling with metaphysics. You 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


m 

can convert her according to the ability of the 
emotional proselytor. She lacks the qualification 
to analyze correctly and systematize logically. 
Even the ordinary every day life was to these 
people a mystery. Eemoved from their immedi- 
ate sphere they are bewildered and lost. 

“ You look at city life through golden spectacles 
and claim all the hardship for yourself, forget- 
ing that the apparent prosperity is often dearly 
bought.” Aunty just then came in ready for a 
walk and interrupted the conversation. Her list- 
eners were full of sympathy and felt that Adelaid 
had not concealed her own share of trouble, to 
which they were strangers. 

The busily chattering assemblage of women 
were especially moved to contribute towards the 
happiness of their young friend, and there was 
nothing they could devise short of a husband. It 
might also be a means of permanently securing 
her to their prairie. Happiness without matri- 
mony was probably never thought of in a gather- 
ing of women. Fortunately they had no man, 
unless it was the German, who might be con- 
sidered elligible. The matter was still undecided, 
when the ladies returned from their short walk, 
Adelaid in the privacy of their rooms to brood 
over her unhappy situation — away from friends 
and home, and kindred companionship, and how 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


175 


long was she to battle with adversity ; could she 
pursue a different course ? She had been rejected 
and spurned, as if a criminal, though blameless, 
without guilt attaching to her, and it was not a 
fixed determination from mere vanity that she 
was sojourning on the prairies. Future happi- 
ness demanded that she must be wooed for her- 
self, for her worth, not taken back from pity or 
remorse. Such were her companion thoughts in 
her lonely hours of which there was no end, and 
no variation ; and the hot summer days without 
home comforts made life even more burdensome 
as she contemplated the privations of her dear, 
old aunty, so faithful to her trust, who had not the 
elasticity of youth and hope to buoy her up. 

It was thus that they sought more of the soci- 
ability of the parlor, where the men would linger 
an hour after dinner, their sleepy business permit- 
ing, to read the papers, to talk and pass the hot 
hours of the day. Harter, whose store w^as in 
the care of Koni, dropped the paper on the 
entrance of the ladies, as if he had been waiting 
for the moment with the most vital question in 
his mind. He was a good talker and was always 
on hand with a subject, without being common- 
place or pedantic, to interest those whom he hon- 
ored with his attention. He conversed well and 
far above the tmdemark of his business, and 


176 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


scientific subjects were not merely a bobby of a 
man who felt that a professional bad been lost in 
him. He was a student of nature, and well 
informed. He was taciturn and melancholy, 
but all were indulgent towards him as still an 
invalid — some hinted at a great, secret sorrow 
concealed by his closed lips. 

Conversation was carried on in a desultory 
manner and some one asked Harter, if the heat 
affected him, to which he replied that a sponge 
could not absorb water more readily than he the 
heat, the air being so full of it. The minister 
who boarded at the house during the absence of 
his family, just entered, and Harter arose offer- 
ing his seat, as he seldom remained to hear the 
subject of salvation introduced in conversation. 
Pressing him to keep his seat the minister at the 
same time asked the question, if he was demon- 
strating the force of capillary attraction? His 
manner of speaking did not express confidence in 
Harter’s qualification for the task, and Adelaid 
promptly corrected : “ Atmospheric pressure.” 

“I said I was saturated with heat,” replied 
Harter, surprised at Adelaid’s correction, “ there 
being so much in the air, a sponge could not ab- 
sorb water more freely. But v/hy is not atmos- 
pheric pressure a better definition, suggesting the 
cause of a phenomenon not known in nature as a 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


177 


force ? The greater pressure on the larger surface 
of the water in a basin forces the air from the 
cells of a sponge, or a rag, their walls preventing 
equable counter pressure ; as two drops will flow 
together, the motion becoming apparently more 
rapid the less air space there is between the 
fluids. You are aware that the larger stream 
drives back the smaller.” 

“ How do you explain that a tube immersed in 
water has a dent in the centre ; is not capillary 
attraction at the walls the cause of it ? ” 

“ Its cause is greater pressure in the free centre, 
and less on the edges, where adhesion and friction 
oppose it. Mercury retains its globular form 
being heavier than atmosphere. Is not that your 
explanation?” he asked Adelaid, as if tired of 
further continuing the subject. 

“ That was the explanation,” she said, which 
sometime in the past was given her,” 

The minister was much sui’prised, and though 
he was not up in physics he instantly seized the 
horn of his dilemma and mounted his favored 
pegasus. “ Then, if on this principle, we should 
so fill the air with religious fervor would not that 
be in our favor, be an advantage to this poor, 
sinning world ? ” he groaned audibly, “ would you 
come to our meetings to set an example to others, 
to seek Jesus and Heaven, to escape the terrible 


178 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


consequences those are risking who fail to do so ? ” 
He drew a long breath and was getting ready to 
continue the exhortation, when Harter, trembling 
with excitement, seized the breathing spell to 
interrupt him. “ I have expected that, it is always 
the way, you ministers cannot enjoy life, nor let 
others do so their own way. You make yourselves 
miserable, and others gain nothing by your fear 
of hell, and anxiety to get into Heaven, of which 
you have as little idea as children.” 

His voice was in a tremor, and the minister 
was in danger of a scathing rebuke. Mrs. Terry, 
not a member of his congregation, smiled with 
satisfaction — the rivalry of creeds is as ferocious 
as that of trades — but Adelaid seized the pause to 
interrupt Harter, saying: “What is Heaven? 
Where is it ? What is hell, and what its punish- 
ment ? ” Reaching out of the window she brought 
in an ugly caterpillar, descending from a tree 
overhanging the walk, and as the loathsome thing 
descended towards the floor, she continued : “Are 
we not like this grub which has no virtues, and 
no object save to denude the tree of its leaves, 
satisfying its appetite, and when its time of 
translation draws near to encase itself in its oto 
exudations and await the change? When the 
joy of playful children on green meadows, its 
beautifully colored wings a delight to itself, as it 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


179 


were, as well as to other creatures, it is hovering 
from flower to flower sipping nectar from pistil 
and stamen, is it not still with us like this grub ? 

“ It is here, where we dwell, now, and hereafter. 
Disentangled from this ugly, slow creeping body 
with its necessities, its functions, oft perverted to 
passions, and vices, uncontrolled and unalterable 
by conditions. Like the butterfly, we may flit 
across an uncouth brother in his original garb, be 
repelled or attracted, assist him with a new, a 
better thought, blowing a swell in his wave of 
life ; perchance tarry in pity remembering with 
grief our own shoilcomings. This is our hell. 
Our Heaven is noble pursuits, self-cultivation, 
unravelling the mysteries of the universe, enjoy- 
ment of creation, contemplation of spirit. Hell 
is where our vices linger. Heaven whither the 
soul doth soar.’^ 

The minister found time fleeting, as a look at 
his watch informed him, he excused himself with 
a parting shot, not to acknowledge defeat, that 
the Bible taught no such doctrine ; it was sinful, 
nothing less than blasphemy to think it — there 
was no name for the crime to teach it. 

“ Then let us have a new Bible,” said Harter 
contemptuously. “One that will tell us where 
and what Heaven is ; one that will suit the times, 
and is adapted to our understanding. To think 


180 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED, 


that the present, enlightened world must still hear 
the same Bible preached that was adapted to the 
limited understanding of the barbarous peoples of 
two thousand years ago — and such interpretation, 
each man, and each sect differing from the other 
in what they understand to be its meaning — ^is to 
say the intellect has no development, all must 
be taken on faith; the preacher alone has the 
right and the understanding to think. Their 
studies consisting chiefly in church discipline, for 
which they grant each other titles. 

“Millions brought up under Christian influence 
have been driven to infidelism by its teachings of 
a literalness so at variance with common sense, 
and the enlightenment of the age that demands 
eradication of the mystic, the unbelievable, con- 
trary to nature, and the known laws of the uni- 
verse, as we know them today. They are bar- 
baric inventions to impose on the ignorant, and a 
hindrance to the acceptance of the teachings, mis- 
represented, and rendered useless. The doubtful 
should have vanished centuries ago, its meaning 
brought in harmony with the tenets of common 
sense religion. 

“ Today the rays of a star that shines over the 
palace of the sinful, as well as the humble stable 
of Bethlehem, could not extend into the next 
decade ; but we are still asked to worship a super- 


A ^lYSTERY EXPLAINED, 


181 


stition of two thousand years ago ! That Father, 
Son, and Holy Ghost, have other meaning than 
Cause, Effect, Spirit all, can hardly be doubted, 
if it is anything more than a mere figure of 
speech. Nor has the spirit conception any other 
meaning to the student of physiology than a 
huge lie, or spirit conception of Christ’s teachings, 
— not liis body’s.” 

The minister had departed before Haider came 
to the finale, and after resting a few minutes to 
recover from his excitement he bid the ladies good 
afternoon. “ I think all the w^orld ought to know 
your beautiful belief,” said enthusiastic Mrs. Terry 
to Adelaid who could not agree with her. 

“ There are some people,” she replied, “ whose 
thoughts may be directed, where they are in doubt, 
or wholly in the dark, although of inquiring mind. 
But there are others who cannot comprehend 
anything their prayer book does not contain, 
They cannot see, and seeing cannot understand. 
Their first shock will be received when they have 
left this life behind them, but they will find light 
ill their own time. To disturb them in their faith 
would be robbing them of the ground under their 
feet ; and what matters it knowing my destiny, as 
long as I cannot change it ? As to where happi- 
ness is found, what religious belief offers it more 
than another? And it may be exchanging one 


182 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED, 


delusion for another. You have been a methodist 
which did not satisfy ; the baptist’s faith met your 
expectations still less ; your spiritualism satisfied 
only as long as it amused ; for Eochester knock- 
ings, and table moving bear not the spirit of a 
hereafter within them, nor give a happiness that 
is lasting. They are phenomenae that prove the 
existence of elements around us, which testify of a 
life independent of this; but they are neither 
spirit, nor heaven, for which you have mistaken 
them, because you have not the true spirit witliin 
you to understand them. And of this comes the 
fact that you are now ready to take up a new 
creed without a moment’s pause to examine its 
merits, its truth, or utter falsity. There is only 
Christian Science as the next guide post left to 
lead you on ways uncertain and deceitful. 

“ Persuade your husband, when the frost has 
nipt his corn, his pigs will not miss the kernel, not 
being under his delusion ‘ that he who sows may 
reap.’ The only difficulty I see for you, is to keep 
the poor man from expecting a crop of fat pork. 

“ Christ put all things under him, yet he suf- 
fered and did not once call it a delusion, praying 
to his heavenly Father to take this cup from him. 
And when the doubting Thomas would not believe 
he held out his hands that touching of the nail 
prints might convince him — never once alluding 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


183 


to a delusive body. If your husband finds it hard 
to travel such a road as you have mapped out for 
him, and is lagging behind, or turning aside, the 
fault is not in him, but the folly is your own, and 
I would warn you to pause in your enthusiasm 
for new interpretations of truths. ” 

Mrs, Terry began to feel very uncomfortable 
under the force of such arguments, and from that 
source, she gave a hasty glance at her watch and 
found she must excuse herself to be on her way 
home, but she still maintained her difference of 
opinion with an occasional shake of the head. 
To relieve the embarrassment Adelaid said on 
parting : “ Eemember that the light that shines not 
too bright to some, would prove ruinous to others ; 
nor is darkness quite so hideous when the eye has 
become accustomed to its shadows. Its limita- 
tions greater, can you see more all dazzled and 
perplexed ? ” 

The dulness of a country town was never so 
painfully impressed on Adelaid as watching the 
receding figure of Mrs. Terry through the heat, 
and a cloud of dust raised by some playing dogs. 
The only other moving object in sight was a load 
of hay slowly creepmg away in the distance. No 
loungers in front of the stores, the merchants 
inside — there were no customers to waylay for a 
handshake, nor a bundle to hand in the wagon — 


184 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


no goods displayed outside to indicate that life 
was not extinct within, not even the customary 
barrel with brooms and axhandles was visible to 
lead a stranger to the door of a store. If all the 
town were at its funeral, she alone had been for- 
gotten by the undertaker, the signs of life could 
not be more extinct. She sighed and longed for 
her eastern home, its joys and pleasures, beauti- 
ful streets, and avenues of shade trees, squares, 
and cooling fountains, and busy going and com- 
ing, and of fashionable bustle. A long, shrill 
whistle in the distance beyond the load of hay, 
rumbling car wheels, another shorter toot, nearer 
by — 0 blessed sign of life, a godsend to a sleepy 
country town, awakening echoes, and expectation, 
hope of something turning up, ( but this is only a 
freighter) it stirs the stagnant, miasmatic air, and 
neutralizes its deadly, poisonous loneliness, and 
sometimes may cause the hurricane. What a 
blessing to the hermit of the prairie. He may 
time his dinner by it, and know when to go to 
sleep, and be reminded of an outer world besides 
his own, where people starve, as he must suffer 
mental anorexia ; and thousands of shrieking loco- 
motives furnish dinners only for a few — these 
smoking, belching, pest breeding monsters of the 
cities — a blessing here, hailed with delight, a dirt 
creating nuisance there, when wealth is set asido. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


185 


Her revery was interrupted as Aunty said : “ I 
do not know what this vibration is, or what it 
vibrates, but here is Adelaid who can explain it. 
I tried to tell them by the clock,” she said to the 
latter, “ but didn’t succeed.” She had just entered 
by the hall door with her company. “ It is a little 
beyond me to lecture on abstract subjects. When 
I went to school it was enough to get through the 
speller well.” 

Adelaid felt somewhat reluctant to enter into 
the subject, for already the hour drew near for 
early arrivals for tea to drop in. “I will give you 
a hasty explanation before the gentlemen arrive, 
for if I am caught there will be another discus- 
sion, and one a day is quite enough. “ 

“ Oh, yes, goodness, me — I shouldn’t want to be 
found discussing scientific subjects, for they would 
only laugh at us, knowing that women don’t 
understand such things,” said Mrs. Slowly with a 
hasty glance in the street. 

“ But now and then they are mistaken,” said 
Adelaid, drawing her chair in front of the three 
ladies. 

“ Oh, yes, you are an exception, I did not mean 
to include you,” replied Mrs. Slowly apologetic- 
ally, and Adelaid began. 

“Vibration,” she said, “is perhaps not gener- 
ally understood by people claiming to be scien- 


186 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


tists, who have however no right to an appellation 
which was already appropriated by a class with 
entirely different objects. ‘ Scienters ’ should be 
their appellation, if any part of that word is 
claimed.” After this digression she continued ; 
“ If you consider the motion of the pendulum as 
a vibration, you have first, from the point of rest 
in the centre, to the right the positive part of the 
vibration. To the left, the negative part of the 
same. The extreme distance of the two motions 
is the amplitude of a vibration. If the line of 
rest is horizontal ( at right angles with that of the 
the pendulum ) the upward motion, or swell, is 
the positive, and the downward the negative. 
The light ether gives this result, and when not in 
motion, at the point of rest, the result is darkness. 
Two vibrations starting at different times, the last 
reaching positive, w^hile the first is at negative, 
suspending each other, leaving the ether molecule 
at rest, results in darkness. 

“Many examples of vibrations may be men- 
tioned, as the swinging of a siring of a musical 
instrument, which set the ether molecules in mo- 
tion. If we magnify a line of molecules to the size 
of rubber balls, and touch the nearest, its motion 
is communicated to the end of the line, this is the 
positive, its rebound the negative part of the vibra- 
tion.” With that she escaped to her room. 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


18 Y 


CHAPTEK VIII. 

The intentions of Mrs. Terry had entirely been 
forgotten, for here she stood, at the gate of Mrs. 
Lowe, her nearest neighbor, telling the news and 
the little she remembered of the subject she had 
heard discussed, although it was her husband’s 
supper time. She carried an air of vain intellect- 
ual pretension that was in marked contrast to her 
recently humbled aspirations, and the friend’s 
admiration was needful to fully recover from the 
shock of Adelaid’s lecture. ‘ You are so tony, you 
visit the hotel folks, I have no education,’ her head 
w’agged unction to her neighbor, how could Mrs. 
Terry in her mental elevation think of a man’s 
empty stomach, when her head was full of the food 
of the gods, and it was then and there that her 
dream expressed itself in words. Why wasn’t she 
a great woman ? Others had started from humble 
beginnings, and she could study up. “ We are 
going to start a club, and you must join it,” she 
said to Mrs. Lowe. 

“ Oh, dear, no, I could not visit, if I knew ever 
so much. I have my work to do, and baby to 


188 


A mysteey explained. 


nurse. And then my husband might not be in 
favor of it,” mildly objected the neighbor, but she 
felt flattered by the suggestion. 

“ It is ever the same — ^work, work,” replied Mrs. 
Terry petulantly. “ The day is coming when it 
Avill all be different, but we must have a club as 
they do in other places, talk things over, help 
each other.” 

Here Mrs. Lowe put in another objection, “Oh, 
I can do all my work alone,” she said. 

“ Nobody wants to do your work,” impatiently 
replied Mrs. Terry. “We must have lectures, 
and lecture ourselves, and let the men know that 
we are women.” 

“ Dear me, don’t they know that already ? ” 
Mrs. Lowe blushed, and both laughed. 

And Mrs. Terry said : “ You ought to blush for 
your ignorance. They must be taught that we 
will stand up for ourselves, let the world die out 
rather than give up our rights.” 

She claimed to be a seeker for the ‘ great truths ’ 
agitating the world, and was impressed of a 
previous existence, where others had not even 
dreamed. She had arrived at this conclusion 
only lately to a certainty, after hearing of some 
things she had known since her earliest recollec- 
tion, and now expressed her conviction for the 
first time to her credulous friend. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


189 


The effect of this important announcement was 
unfortunately marred, and her exaltation hum- 
bled, her own words no less than approaching 
foot steps startled her, and turning round she 
beheld her husband. It is the contrary motion 
of a ship makes a man dizzy, as an earthquake 
gives people nausea, and reverses of any kind is 
bad for one’s health, though reversing in dancing 
is said to straighten out the kinks ; but this was 
Mrs. Terry’s unlucky day. As if by intuition he 
comprehended the nature of her discourse, prob- 
ably more from an already familiar text on these 
vagaries than what he heard her say. It may 
well be surmised that he was not different from 
other men, his sympathies were not enlisted in 
matters he did not understand, though out of 
deference for her weakness he might have been a 
respectful listener, if not admirer of her preten- 
sions. But he was only a man, a brute of a 
man, and the club was not yet in working order. 

Seeing her in visiting clothes at this late hour 
it instantly reflected a cold supper of the rem- 
nants of several previous meals — his patience 
forsook him, and angrily he said : “ Yes, I hope 

you will be an Indian squaw in your next reap- 
pearance, born with the camp kettle of your chief 
hung on your back, and besides getting liis grub, 
and hoeing his com, di*ag his wigwam after him. 


190 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


“ I don’t see why I have to live with a woman 
who isn’t what I took her to be?” Mr. Terry 
was a patient man, but his trials had been many, 
and he was now where he had lost control over 
his emotions. His wife’s face turned scarlet at 
the last shot, and Mrs. Lowe flew into the house, 
fearing a family jar. “ She may be a turk,” he 
went on ; “I expected to get an American lady, 
or she may be a Dutchman, or a chimpanzy with 
a previous experience of sitting in a coca nut tree 
cracking nuts. I don’t see why I should take 
care of those children, being probably foreigners, 
hottentots, requiring an insight into Christian 
civilization that way. They are no kin o’ mine — ” 
here he was interrupted by his companion, Mr. 
Lowe, deprecatingly laying his hand on his arm, 
“don’t, now, don’t, Tom,” he said looking per- 
plexed from the husband to liis wife, not fully 
understanding the drift of this strange quarrel. 
The wife promptly availed herself of the lull in 
Tom’s speech and beat a hasty retreat, calling 
over her shoulder, “ supper will be ready agin you 
are coming home.” Believed of her presence 
Lowe continued : “ Don’t be hasty, now, Tom, 
.and say things for which you’ll feel sorry when 
you’ve had your supper, and I know she’ll get you 
a good supper. I don’t know anything about this 
coming back to live the life over again, except 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


191 


what my wife’s been telling me, and she gets it 
from your wife ; but supposing it was all just as 
the lady at the hotel has proved, telling things no 
mortal now living can know, and we, or some of us 
will have to live our life over again ; and suppos- 
ing General Washington, or Daniel Webster might 
this minute be living in your children — ! ” The 
momentous thought caused him to pause, and 
Tom fell back against the fence. To him there 
was no greater name than the father of his coun- 
try, but Lowe continued : “ I should not want to 
do anything agin his chances, nor would you, and 
it may be that the lady has been living a thousand 
years ago, or it may be all women blattering ; but 
if it is so it’s best to let things go as they have been 
going before people knew about it. I am afraid 
we are getting to know too much, and are not 
satisfied at that. What bothers me is how a 
great soul can start again from the merest noth- 
ing, or what becomes of the former greatness, 
during all this growing up. And how the effort 
may be lost when you light on a measly body that 
never has a chance to amount to anything. Now, 
that soul will have to live its life all over again, 
although the women say it was just the experience 
needed.” He paused, to note the effect on Terry. 

“ I shall be a lunatic thinking about it, how 
do the women do it ? ” 


192 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


“ Women never think,” replied Lowe positively. 
“ They believe all at once, or they don’t believe, 
they couldn’t dwell on it, as you and I do, and 
not lose their senses.” 

“ Yes, and my father, and grand father may be 
waiting for a chance.” 

“ Not here, not here, they have had as good as 
they could find with us. But, Terry, your supper 
will be ready by the time you get home. And 
don’t let your thoughts run away with your head. 
How the fellows invent the beliefs for the women, 
is beyond you and me ; but your father won’t be 
hanging round here to improve his chances.” 

“ It isn’t that I want to get a divorce from the 
woman, but do you believe she ought to be lectur- 
ing a fellow half the night, when he is tired, and 
wants to sleep ? ” 

Eubbing his bald head for a moment, Lowe 
slowly replied, “lecturing is the American wom- 
an’s monopoly, she is surely not from the coca 
nut land.” With this weight relieving his mind, 
Tom hastened to his supper, and under the sooth- 
ing vermicular motion of a well filled stomach 
had soon forgotten his distress. 

Tom had probably relieved his mind to others, 
and it was painful to Adelaid to be the innocent 
cause of their disagreement; for while she did 
not purpose to convert to her belief she had at 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


193 


least brought the subject to the surface. “ But, 
they will have something to worry over,” she said, 
“ and another fad might even be more harmful.” 
She cared little for the opinion of church circles 
— independence of thought being preferable to the 
narrow ruts of creed — or if inferiors called her a 
woman of delusions. To her they were only as 
children, led by the Prophets whom they would 
stone for their moralizings, reverently called 
prophesies, although destitude of the swell of a 
vibration for a basis of their probabilities. 

“ She has never made a positive statement of 
which she could not give you a truly scientific 
explanation,” said lawyer Sharp to Mr. Bellman. 
They were at it again in the cool of the evening 
in front of the hotel. ‘ And how do I know these 
things ? ’ she says. ‘ Please explain them to me 
some other way. It is impossible that any one 
can read my mind, or that I, or any one can have 
that power. Impression merely? Well, then ex- 
plain what is impression ? ’ she demands. You 
deny the very origin of impression, the existence 
of an invisible spiritual life having the power to 
influence our actions, and thoughts. Can your 
disseminated thoughts control, or impress us ? 
Guide, or shape human destiny ? ” 

“The theory of disseminated thought floating 
in space belongs to the vagaries of men who have 


194 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


not had the advantage of systematic training,” 
said Harter curtly. 

“ Nor the good fortune to have fallen in with a 
higher class of their floating thoughts,” suggested 
the lawyer sarcastically. “If I understand her 
right, she says : ‘ A thought is only a function, an 
action df the mind. It has not the meaning of 
substance, either in the abstract or concrete, 
although commonly understood as of material 
form.’ ” He added inquiringly. 

“ A thought has no existence till' an object 
causes an impression on special sense — like tlie 
report of a gun which has no existence till you 
explode the powder — it only leaves a vibration 
of its action, calling forth a train of operations, 
of the mind, which are : reproductions of previous 
impressions — memory, comparison with the one 
last received, deliberation. As yet the will has 
only the form of an emotion as the result of the 
first impression. The ether of the special sense 
nerve vibrates the impression centripetally to the 
brain ether which thus becomes consciousness. 

“ These operations prove that thought has only 
existence in vibrations, or impressions — a func- 
tional process of the brain ether — and has no 
other logical meaning.” 

“ Of what use is a knowledge of the process of 
the mind to evolve thought, if it is an unconscious. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


195 


mechanical act due to object vibration on brain . 
ether ? ’’ persisted Bellman. 

“ It should be of benefit to the believers in float- 
ing thought evolution, who would not have fallen 
into that error, to be sure, at the price of their 
favorite hobby ; and the emotionist who never has 
any foundation to his cause would find tranquil 
nights and peaceful Sabbaths in his old pew ; no 
worry, nor demands to build up new faiths which 
sooner or later have as little attraction for him as 
the old, and will give way to something still newer 
— ah, and better too ! ” It was Harter who spoke 
and then said good night to the company. 

“ If the world was ever started from germs, as 
you believe,” said Sharp to Bellman, “ like bac- 
teriological products of today, I do not think that 
the creation can ever come round that way again ; 
it is not a logical idea, and pray, where will you 
get the germs ? ” General laughter followed this 
irrelevant remark, but he continued more seri- 
ously: “I have learned to know life’s simplest 
side and find it easier to meet it open handed. 
Metaphysics seem but to make living more diffi- 
cult, the problem of life becomes philosophical 
circumvention. I am sorry that the subject was 
ever brought before me from that side, for I do 
not perceive that it enhances man’s happiness. 
On the contrary, they are a miserable lot, to take 


196 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


them all round, not one who finds what they pre- 
tend — real satisfaction and happiness — unhealthy 
people, moral suicides. The man who takes life 
as he finds it, is he who rules the earth — the dis- 
contents are all philosophers.” 

Very trite sayings may surprise us with their 
wisdom. Sharp’s profuse vocabulary was never 
suspected to express wisdom, and he was probably 
not aware how much truth he had uttered, sharp 
as he w^as by name and wit on common subjects. 
It showed him from a side of which he had given 
no promise. Alas, that the process of thinking 
is so misused, never understood by people of dis- 
ordered, unsystematic brains, whose fads pass as 
“ thought,” themselves claiming to be advanced 
thinkers ” — illogical minds who get premises and 
conclusion mixed. 

The average mind of ordinary education stands 
aghast, or bhndly follows the philosophies of the 
fadist, the sensational religionist, the philosoph- 
ical moralist, the scientific enthusiast, and what 
ever name they may claim. Where once sermons 
were preached on religion, dissension with religion 
in the back ground is the most prominent feature 
in the philoso^ihies of heaven. It reminds of 
people who don’t believe in heaven, but will call 
on God when in trouble. 

The ethical philosopher shrieks himself hoarse. 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


197 


telling us how the world delights in being sinful. 
There is so much said and so little done to rectify 
this wickedness, it excites the curiosity of the fool- 
ish, and evil is propagated in the wake of their 
sermons. The cause, reincarnated with every 
birth, is beyond the control of man, as long as 
nerve and brain ether perform their function. No 
one has thought of a blanket large enough to get 
the evil under cover. No means whatever have 
been adopted to make sin respectable. The rich 
buy immunity, and the poor sin in defiance of the 
laws now in existence. Nor must a difference be 
made between the sexes. One is tempted to 
believe the masculine is the more modest, as evi- 
denced by immodest exposures of legs, or riding 
the diamond wheel, creeping through the streets 
on all fours, after the manner of the scorcher. 
Sex should not be an excuse from punishment, 
nor wealth a shield for sinners. And since there 
is nothing so effectual as a dose of their own 
medicine, compel transgressors into wedlock ; or 
imprisonment till married out — robbed of liberty 
deprives of the opportunity to sin. All marry by 
a certain age, or lose their liberty. Content- 
ment will thus be thrust on many a timid couple. 

Great questions demand deliberation and exper- 
iment. Amid the multifarious subjects the timid 
man scarcely knows how to get out of bed of 


198 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


mornings lest the wrong foot is given precedence ; 
it is well to move with caution. The philosophies 
of life, of health, of morals, and hosts of others 
too numerous to mention, make it almost bur- 
densome to live. The “ healers ” show the homoe- 
opaths today that the one hundred thousandth 
dynamization of inert substances does not do the 
healing, and that it is not necessary to be able to 
hear the grass grow, as the latter proved to the 
allopaths that it wasn’t essential to kill a man to 
cure him. And now, after more than one hun- 
dred years of bitter animosity, and great improve- 
ment in both, they have exchanged pill, (the all- 
opathic growing smaller, and the homoeopathic 
larger,) and hold love feasts together, which would 
be more enjoyable, but for the cruel “ scientist’s” 
threats to annihilate the pathies. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


199 


CHAPTEE IX. 

Adelaides health was restored, but none of the 
little circle of friends to whom she had so endeared 
herself, asked when she was going East ; none 
wished to be reminded there must be an hour of 
separation, it would arrive sometime, and that was 
soon enough to feel the vacancy her absence 
would cause in their midst. The older and stron- 
ger attachments at her home must make her little 
diversion in Blight seem like a pleasant dream, 
sorry it was not true, and so fleeting ; with a sigh, 
perhaps a tear, we part, and it will scarcely cause 
a ripple in the life of an individual — adieu ! A 
dream, it is all over after leave taking — another 
little scar in your sympathetic heart, but it will 
sear over, be forgotten, new joys and pleasures, 
many and lasting, will cover it over, and those 
left behind will after a time only remember that 
wonderful woman, her beauty, her gifts, how 
much information they had received in the short 
time she remained among them, what possibilities 
to be with her a lifetime ! 

Every returning traveler has anticipations to 


200 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


which the new friend is a stranger. Every where 
familiar scenes, and old friends to meet — joyful 
news and messages to hear, and her experience 
among the rustics to relate ! But no joyful throb 
could fill the void in Adelaides breast, or revive a 
hope, where joy had fled. Old friends would 
awake bygone memories and anew lacerate the 
heart of youth, so seldom healed by age and 
absence. And if the magic home did not give 
hope her absence was but little better. What 
she had said and done was not understood and 
caused her pain and disappointment. Here she 
was a puzzle, and could not be herself, it was the 
impenetrable cloak she wore, and still so gauzy ; 
nor could she approach her object otherwise, and 
she was yet so far from her goal, that a little 
longer must her happiness be counterfeit, till the 
fiat thing become the real. 

There was the best excuse to prolong her stay 
— a relapse was possible, should she go East pre^ 
maturely, she knew it for a certainty — but the 
monotony of the place might have contributed to 
her restless spirit ; have created that hoping and 
longing for the undefined something to which she 
was entitled, but could not obtain. With this 
restraint imposed she must bide her time with 
patience, was it a wonder she talked nervously on 
subjects she cared least to bring before strangers, 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


201 


or people unable to understand her. Sharp flat- 
tered himself she was talking to Mm, and not- 
withstanding he said to Mr. Bellman, “ It is agree- 
able to be instructed, but would be madness for 
the moon to shine by the side of the glaring sun,” 
he had become encouraged and easy in his man- 
ners, and careless in the selection of his subjects 
for conversation. 

He unwittingly brought up the subject of the 
heredity of sin, taking sides with the minister to 
whose lecture he had listened on the previous 
Sunday. Adelaid’s opinion wasj “ That heredity 
of sin had become a fad for writers, as it always 
was a choice morsel for ministers, on which to 
build sermons, and a certain class of doctors take 
advantage of the present by holding past genera- 
tions responsible for our sins. In the cry of 
heredity of disease we are laying our faults at the 
door of those who lived before vithout a thought 
of our own modes of living, of travel, and the 
growing desire to be satisfied nowhere, of think- 
ing, of increased possibilities to contract and sow 
disease. The mother is harrassed and worried by 
wants and extravagances not known in genera- 
tions past, when her ancestors were content with 
what they had and slept tranquilly under shingled 
roofs. Steam and furnace heat debility were not 
known, and the air they breathed was not filtered 


202 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


through other lungs and the aggregation of hum- 
an and anirnal impurities. We have acquired 
vices of which former generations were in ignor- 
ance. Our excuses are many, but one of the most 
convenient was thrust on the transgressor ready 
made — the heredity of vice, of sin, and all which 
that term implies, and he is willing to accept the 
inevitable, that the cause is beyond his control. 
The defaulter, the highway robber, the murderer, 
can get more sympathy, bouquets, subscriptions 
for release or defense, and pardons from hanging, 
than the^ wretch who falls unconsciously in the 
street from an epileptic fit. 

“ If statistics show instances of the heredity of 
habitual criminals, we have also exceptions, and 
have we not a much larger class of respectable 
parentage having among them the worst malefac- 
tors on record ? Every bank defaulter is of this 
class, because none of criminal parentage would 
ever be intrusted with a responsible position. 
You have had such a case right among you, which 
is but one of thousands, to one of heredity.’’ 

Sharp looked like a boy caught stealing apples, 
himself having defended the culprit, and the min- 
ister had not a word to say, but she was warmed to 
her subject and bent on mischief. Calmly eyeing 
both she continued : “ My dear father was from 
his childhood a presbyterian, as were his parents. 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


203 


he never missed a Sabbath meeting, but in the 
last few years of bis life be began to admit there 
were some good baptists and metbodists, although 
they differed with him, which his puritan parents 
would never have conceded; he also admitted 
that some of the teachings were getting a little 
obsolete, he feared. And why,” looking straight 
at the minister, “ ‘ do I use my talents in the ways 
that are evil ? ’ ” The preacher’s words in speak- 
ing of her. “ I was born long before my parent 
became so liberal. 

“You may harmonize your views with Bible 
passages, but they certainly are not with exper- 
ience, and telling the drunkard ‘ poor fellow, you 
cannot help it, you want to quit so bad, but we 
know it is a disease has gotten the better of you,’ 
( her mimicking voice sounded very amusing ) you 
make it easy for him to excuse himself and con- 
tinue in his debauches.” 

“ Do not doctors say it is a disease ? ” said 
Sharp with more assurance than prudence. 

“ There are doctors enough who take advantage 
of emotional shriekers to fill their houses, and 
harvest from the sowings of the foolish, but that 
is no proof. A better acquaintance with the 
causes of crime at the head of which stands 
drunkenness, will teach you that the heredity of 
sin lies in acquired vicious habits; the tobacco 


204 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


slave is too familiar, they have robbed the victim 
of volition, control him with relentless domina- 
tion, though shame and regrets will awaken sin- 
cere desire to be manly and respectable. Temp- 
tation and oportunity cause*the good resolutions 
to melt away like snow in June. 

“Inexperienced people are striving to fortify 
creed theories by a few statistical facts without 
credit for the condition of the criminal family, 
without education, the lowest associations, neglect, 
nakedness, starvation, homeless; offset this by 
education, the best associations, pattern examples 
of parents, every thing combining for homes of 
comfort and ease. You will see how small a part 
heredity plays. The experienced physician knows 
that the heredity of disease covers a small per 
cent, in comparison to the accidental, or acquired, 
and educational causes, and he who will search 
for sin outside of the Bible will have much cause 
to ask for ancestral pardon. Heredity of sin is 
an attempt to shift responsibility from our own 
to other shoulders, and excuse and encourage the 
continuation of sinfulness.” 

Gathering up her work Adelaid retired to her 
room, and a dead silence succeeded her animated 
talk, for there was nothing more to be said. The 
preacher had been reproved, according to those 
who remembered his lecture, and Harter, who 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


205 


would not participate when the minister was inter- 
ested wondered why Adelaid should go to all this 
trouble to refute mere opinions, “ an idle waste of 
time,” he said. Only Bellman was aware of the 
animus of her shafts, and the lawyer found it con- 
venient to have an errand across the street, not 
caring to hear the latter detail, at his expense, that 
he was her informant of the preachers’s opinion 
of her. He did not think she cared, nor that she 
would find so good an opportunity to let the min- 
ister see his error. 

Harter was much annoyed by Sharp’s ohtuse- 
ness, as he called it, and interference with irrele- 
vant questions, when he was discussing scientific 
subjects which had a special interest for the sing- 
ular fact that her mind ran in identical lines, 
sometimes using his own language. Was she 
inspired, his mind read by spirits and transferred 
to her, or had she really had a previous existence ? 
He was not satisfied to call it merely coincidental. 

Eeturning to his store in an irritated temper 
he gave expression to his feelings, but repented 
even before Koni had answered, “ The boarders 
contribute to her humiliation by noticing Sharp’s 
officiousness.” 

“ Yes, and why shouldn’t he want to be soci- 
able, we all love to hear a word from her, and he 
is not making love to her — wouldn’t dare to, any 


20G 


A ]\IYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


more than I would. A pretty woman is an 
attraction to every man, especially when she also 
is intelligent. 

“ A woman’s heart is her citadel which can only 
be won by boldly storming it,” replied Eoni w^ell 
versed in heart affairs, with this sage remark 
he dropped the subject. 

If Harter had been less philosopher and more 
practical he would have applied his ideas of the 
supernal origin of thought — not of attracted influ- 
ence because of thought — to the atmosphere 
which Adelaid had created. But he carried a lan- 
tern and could not see, the rayon of its reflection 
having dazzled his vision. The ideas he had so 
safely stored away in his treasure trove were now, 
perhaps had been made known before, exhumed 
and scattered broadcast by her, and he wns in the 
mood of an inventor who discovers himself not to 
be the only original inventor of his thoughts. On 
that score he accounted for his ill humor and 
unhappiness ; for surely he had no other interest 
in her than caused by these revelations of his own 
ideas which she had revived. He was better 
aware than Sharp how little cause for uneasiness 
the latter was to him; but away from her the 
whole weight of his friendless, hopeless isolation 
fell heavily upon him. The cause of his unhap- 
liiness, and self imposed silence appeared in a 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


207 


new form, a longing for change came over him, 
though he knew peace of mind was not to he pur- 
chased at any price, or more readily obtained than 
at Blight. It seemed as if to drop a tear on his 
wife’s grave would afford relief, assuage his bleed- 
ing heart, but nothing could give forgetfulness ; 
nor did he want it, but to live in the remember- 
ance of her, and in the spirit live with her, and for 
this reason he must visit her last resting place. 
A heavy burden to satisfy his longing heart, was 
resting on his shoulders, and a heavier task to 
overcome the insurmountable obstacle in his way 
for its accomplishment. “ ^\^aere was she buried, 
and under what name ? ” Were the first difficul- 
ties encountered, and he could not ask a question 
without exciting suspicion, possibly arrest and 
imprisonment. He thought long and silently and 
said, “ break my heart before the breath of slander 
shall tarnish her fair name.” He looked fright- 
ened around, as if fearing his thoughts had been 
overheard, or wafted on zephyrs beyond his con- 
trol. The anguish of the lover tormented by a 
fevered conscience have driven men to the front in 
battle, where death was sure to meet them, or to 
a suicide’s grave ; but he had faithfully promised 
her he never would end his own life, and could not 
violate the trust reposed in him. And he thought 
of their first meeting, and how she had rescued 


208 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


and befriended him ; their marriage, the few days 
of happiness, and her tragic end. He groaned, and 
sobbed like a child. He wanted the sympathy of 
some one and thought of Adelaid, but a good cry 
on a friend’s breast is woman’s anodyne, his 
pride suppressed the wish as promptly as it came, 
though Koni’s shrewdness might have been of 
much help to him in his search. 

Such were his nights after Eoni had left him, 
whose companionship had become a necessity — 
the sedative to his excited brain. Spending the 
earlier part of the evening in conversation, where 
Adelaid’s cultured mind was the centre of attrac- 
tion until a seemly hour necessitated to say good 
night, when, after closing the store, he would 
invite the young man to light another cigar, for he 
enjoyed listening to his happy moods, often in 
thoughts far away, as Eoni was well aware, sit- 
ting late to escape the solitude of wakeful hours. 
These social smokes never vitiated into philosoph- 
ical, or psychical discussions for which Eoni had 
no temperament, as indeed he never was at the 
hotel parlors, preferring a chat with some young 
fellow near his own age. “ I am just as good as 
any of the heaven makers,” he said laughingly to 
Harter, “and metaphysics cannot improve me. 
When I am dead it is to be hoped a wiser provi- 
dence will dispose of me otherwise than crowding 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


209 


my full grown soul back into an infant, like a 
number eight foot into a number six shoe, which 
will only feel comfortable when the shoe is worn 
out. Though I’ll admit that some men’s souls 
could not fill a baby’s shoe.” 

“I believe if there is such a thing,” replied 
Harter seriously, “ as living a life over it is as a 
spirit companion of an individual in the flesh. 
Learning what he learns, enduring his vices, 
against my will or power — his virtues will scarce 
affect me — is a school, and as much as the most 
fastidious could desire for reincarnation, or hell — 
it is being obsessed. The creation of a self con- 
scious soul principle united with earthly instincts 
is the saddest mishap that befell man at his crea- 
tion. To know vice, without the virtue to curb 
temptation, is debasing. I was made all wrong 
since right has its existence, for I cannot help my 
weakness.” 

He had no desire to convert a happy young fel- 
low, full of life and its pleasures, into an unhappy 
dreamer, but how much he had revealed in his 
sickness filled him with curiosity and speculation ; 
the mill scene haunted him, and he misconstrued 
Eoni’s answer, it made him distrustful and moody. 
He had the suspicion he concealed the truth from 
a feeling of delicacy, of sublimal consciousness, 
when men often perform intelligent acts without 


210 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


known conditions or influence. Making predic- 
tions, prescriptions, diagnosing disease not sus- 
pected, when stupid with liquor, and later verified, 
though it was not remembered afterwards, was no 
assurance to Harter that nothing had transpired. 
He had returned to the subject and Eoni replied 
that a man is often out of his head when not 
delirious, though he might not reveal any secrets. 

“ That "must have a bearing on your own silence 
for the last few days ? ’’ 

Skillfully turned, thought Eoni and replied, 
“ I must have been thinking that my mutterings 
would be about the pretty girls we have in the 
East, whom I miss in the western villages.” 

“Ever the magnet, though she poisons your 
atmosphere. There is room for all you can bring 
us. Miss Adelaid is very handsome.” 

“ A handsome woman wants her equal, at least 
a cultivated woman would find it difficult to 
satisfy her expectations, though many marry 
beneath them, since women are really better edu- 
cated than men who being ever on the look out 
for collaterals, devote less time to collateral edu- 
cation. This is more perceptible among western 
men, and applies with equal force to the profes- 
sions. Polish? None, by education nor inher- 
itance. 

“You should see the lady with whom I came 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


211 


dressed in good clothes, and you would say a 
more beautiful woman you never saw. The old 
gowns the admiration of the rustics, which she 
now wears are only for the occasion and will be 
worn by her servants when she returns.” 

“ You have known the ladies sometime ? ” 

“ I had no acquaintance beyond knowing who 
they are. I have been in the employ of a near 
relative, and when I met them at the depot hav- 
ing my fare paid to a western town they proposed 
that I accompany them farther west. I started 
on this trip to pacify my mother,” his head 
dropped on his hand and he sadly continued, “ I 
dare say her heart beats as anxiously for my 
return ; but that is the way of the old folks. They 
married, accepted all the risk of the step as a 
mere holiday pastime, but their children are 
going down in a yawning abyss. When I alluded 
to the pretty girls we have east of German, Irish, 
as well as American extraction, it was especially 
in reference to a pretty Jewess on one side of me, 
and a handsome Irish catholic on the other. My 
mother likes Eachel, but has race prejudice and 
fears all her people will resent it, we should not 
be recognized by Jews or Christians. To marry 
Delia she thinks I am as good as gone over to the 
catholic faith ; and she would as soon see me join 
the priesthood. But Eachel has done it. She 


212 


A MYSTEE'S EXPLAINED. 


writes, knowing mother’s antipathy to her race 
she has bargained herself to a Hebrew and ancient 
traditions are preserved.” He crumbled an enve- 
lope and gnashed his teeth, saying, “ If I could 
kill Jewish traditions in that Jew I’d set out to 
night to do it.” And with a sad good night he was 
gone. Harter’s eyes followed him with sympathy, 
for he, too, had his wounds. “ Who would have 
thought he was capable of so much feeling,” he 
said, and turned out the light. 

How long Harter lay awake planning for an 
eastern journey was only realized by his unrested 
feelings late in the morning. He also became 
aware that for once he had been deserted by his 
faithful clerk — the store was as still and dark as 
at midnight. “ Has that hot headed boy after all 
gone on his murderous errand ? ” he muttered as 
he tumbled out of bed. When later in the day 
Eoni made his appearance, having conveyed his 
eastern trip to a letter, the proprietor was greatly 
relieved to escape from his confinement. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


213 


CHAPTEE X. 

“ Yes/’ said aunty, “ and you go to the trouble 
to enlighten them on subjects for which they have 
no understanding. They listen because it is you 
who talks, or perhaps expecting something won- 
derful and interesting in the next sentence you 
speak. They would not listen to one of their own 
number.” 

“Now, my dear, that is just where you are 
wrong. You feed a baby on nothing but pap 
when is the poor thing ever to learn to digest 
hardier food ? You can surfeit children on nur- 
sery rhymes, but never develop their minds to a 
higher understanding. Cultivate them as 3^ou go. 
Some things are dark to them, and away beyond 
the horizon of their mental vision, and if not all 
understood it will cause them to move out of their 
routine channels and awaken a desire to know 
more. Mr. Harter is the only man here who 
understands, and could teach them on these sub- 
jects, and they listen to him as attentively as to 
me, but I fear he is a good deal of your way of 
thinking that University Extension should not 


214 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


reach every farmer’s back door to entice his sons 
and daughters away to the city leaving the old 
people alone to work the place which will some 
day be abandoned. For all that University Ex- 
tension is all right, even if the girls do insist on 
being typewriters and stenographers, and the 
boys dream of fine clothes, a clerkship, or legal 
greatness, too good for the farm, if its instructions 
were adapted to make better farmers, not people 
who must add their quota to the great army of 
the unemployed of the cities. 

“I cannot choose my subjects, nor present 
them progressively, I must talk on whatever they 
bring up, but after all I think they are learning 
something every day, although they may have to 
unlearn some of it,” she gave a little laugh which 
startled aunty, “ but that is no harm and devel- 
ops their Intellect. What has the influence of 
Mr. Bellman done for them ? I consider anything 
better than his crude ideas, and they are begin- 
ning to see the inconsistency of his reasoning.” 

“ You are not bringing them nearer the church,” 
said her aunt dryly. 

“ I am bringing them nearer to Heaven.” 

“Adelaid,” said the old lady reproachfully, 
“ you are nervous and talk unreasonably”. 

“ I am perfectly reasonable, and moreover I 
am in earnest,” replied Adelaid good naturedly. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


215 


“ It is so strange that all the world — I mean 
Christian world — cannot see it as I look at it, that 
not every one can believe as every other one 
believes ; or must go to heaven over the same 
road, through the same door. You are well aware 
that neither you nor I could become spiritual 
through the medium of a narrow, sectarian 
prayer. You cannot approach these men through 
the narrow ruts by which they could become 
one with the church, though you kneel a lifetime 
before them in its prayers ; nor awaken a religi- 
ous feeling, or an atom of interest in your subject. 
Smiles and derision would greet 3"our prayers ; for 
neither your subject, nor your method does appeal 
to a logical mind. 

“ Give them something to think at their leisure, 
a subject to reason, and if they are not able to 
reason logically they can follow you and are 
sure to see and hold a conclusion. The hypo- 
thetical arguments of the church founded on the 
mystifying, and contradictory interpretations of 
their book of faith are a failure, and the cause of 
dissentions. Yet Bellman’s infidelism appeals to 
them as little as the ^Drayers of the church ; for 
while the contemplation of nonexistence after 
death is distasteful — they reason that man is 
something different from the animal — the punish- 
ment in the spirit is no drawing card, and they 


210 A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 

disdain both for want of proofs. ‘What more 
does the preacher know than we ? ’ is their logic. 
In larger cities you see thousands of them flock 
to liberal or militant churches — from the fire in 
the frying pan — in search of a creed and argu- 
ments that chord with their feelings. 

“ Above all things the soul is the greatest mys- 
tery, incomprehensible as to the present life, and 
existing, or not, after this. One large, coarse 
appearing man said he would travel all night to 
find some one who could give him a believable, 
possible idea of what it is, and I will take him in 
hand. 

“ There is a practical and a professional reli- 
gion. The man who prays in deeds, is nearer to 
heaven’s gates than he who is too much in a 
hurry for prayer meeting to see an opportunity 
to do a good deed on the way. One who has the 
spirit within does not carry a church bell on 
his head to announce it. But the practical relig- 
ion is little countenanced — it is at best only 
humaneness. The professionalist looks askance 
at its membership, who, thanks to a whole souled 
religiousness, are not guilty of reciprocation.” 

They were resting in the seclusion of their own 
room whither Adelaid often fled for refuge to 
escape importunities. Not, however, to escape sad 
reflections which disturbed her rest so much 


A arrSTERY EXPLAINED. 


217 


needed. All her efforts seemed a painful pastime ; 
as to that our whole life is a pastime interspersed 
with painful disappointments. She had every- 
thing to gain, but such reflections made her rest- 
less, and there was no other diversion than a stroll 
with aunty. They made a short call on the doc- 
tor’s wife, and when they returned it was to find 
a heated discussion in progress. Mrs. Bellman 
hailed Adelaid with delight, she was a methodist, 
but much interested in the latter’s ideas, perhaps 
with a hope for a husband ‘ who was bound to die 
like an animal.’ He was at it with the lawyer 
and neither observed parliamentary rules, both 
wanting to speak at the same time. The question 
was, “ what is the soul, and where is it located.” 
Bellman announced with confidence, and was 
elated, probably in view of his former defeats, 
that this was unanswerable, and the one sided 
battle began. His own side was too well known, 
but he was a respectful listener. 

“ Many have asked these questions without find- 
ing an answer,” said Adelaid, “ and probably the 
most of them could not comprehend it, if the 
information was given them, and you may belong 
to these. For why do you want to know your 
soul, and your body and mind remain strangers 
to you? The vibrations of luminiferous ether 
influence the optic ether, the sound wave the 


218 


A MYSTER'i: EXPLAINED. 


auditory ether, and other senses are similarly 
affected. The luminiferous ether vibrations may 
give us the shadow outlines of objects inter- 
rupting its waves, or without interruption — in 
direct line — the bright light vibration is conveyed 
to the brain ether. 

“In the function of concentric vibration of 
brain ether lies that higher process called mind. 
For its complement you have memory which is 
the reproduction of the vibrations an object has 
previously made, and which results from a repeti- 
tion by the same cause, or associations. Will 
results from necessity or desire. The emotions 
are caused by comparison. This proves that 
thought has no existence either in the abstract or 
concrete — it is simply a process.” 

“ A function,” corrected Harter sullenly. 

“ I agree with you perfectly, Mr. Harter,” said 
Adelaid pleasantly, “you are familiar with the 
subject — it is a process and a function.” A slight 
inclination of the head was all he vouchsafed, and 
Adelaid continued : “ Impressions not received 

through the senses are conveyed to the brain ether 
by molecular vibration of neuro ether. Of such 
are dreams, clairvoyancy, the poet’s and inven- 
tor’s impressions, and highly developed or sensi- 
tive people have frequent proofs of the existence 
of such an influence. It stands as distinctly 


A :mysteky explained. 


219 


extraneous to the man’s faculties as does an indi- 
vidual at liis side. 

“ If molecular vibration of neuro ether is the 
medium communicating its impulses to the brain 
ether, then intelligent beings must be capable of 
controlling it to produce those impressions, and 
the brain ether must stand in the same relation 
to the vibrating medium, as the physical body to 
the earth. The body consisting of earthy matter 
and gases is for all that not a component part of 
earth, but organized earthy matter responsively 
vibrating to its stimulus. Thus is spirit ether 
distinct from neuro ether. And brain ether is the 
embodiment of the soul. 

“ You cannot conceive a state that is now as 
nothing to us, and it is this incomprehensibility 
of a future existence that has given rise to the 
belief that heaven and hell are somewhere instead 
of being right around us.” 

“ Then if this faculty, the brain ether, may be 
affected through this medium of communication 
is it possible that we can influence distant friends, 
impress them with our thoughts ? ” asked Sharp. 

“ Not except through the intervention of spirits 
at both ends of the line, who can produce thought 
vibrations, or impulses, premising the individual’s 
sensibilities are sufficiently developed that impres- 
sions may be conveyed to him. And many are 


220 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


required having the same impulse in view to pro- 
duce an adequate force to convey the message. 
Only when mind has become wholly free and 
independent of matter can we expect to communi- 
cate our thoughts through these channels, and 
this is the only explanation of mind reading. 

Men’s thoughts running in parallel channels, 
though living far apart, find here their explanation 
in accidental impression ; or how one friend may 
know when he will hear from another. Visions 
of a friend dead at a distance may in this way 
appear to you. Not that the dead has the power 
to control elements hitherto unknown to him, any 
more than a new horn babe could run a race, or 
deliver a lecture, but the event is known, and 
communicated to you by one near you. Interfer- 
ence waves may cause unintelligent dreams, or 
distort the picture, and a susceptibility is a neces- 
sary condition. 

‘‘ You may be ignorant, or egotistical, and say 
your own brain evolved the thought which came 
to you, when unable to find your way out of a 
difficulty. That you have done so was because 
no other cause was known to you ; but it is differ- 
ent with the dream, your faculties dormant, which 
the physiologist fails to explain. And can you 
ask for better evidence to prove that you are in 
communication with spirits once living as you do, 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


221 


vibrating neuro ether, our mental and physical 
oxygen by which we are surrounded, freighted 
with ideas as we draw sustenance from food ? And 
the infinite lies in the functional possibility of the 
brain ether, reponsive to its vibrations. 

“ The function of ether is developed at the ex- 
pense of the body, and when physical molecular 
motion no longer exists, when the organic has 
become inorganic the soul’s new life begins. Best 
is death, and only the inorganic unorganized 
matter can have that rest. There is no truth in 
the statement that decomposition liberates the 
spirit. The transition from the organic to the 
inorganic is the spasmodic action of the muscles 
at a death scene, to the uninformed so painful to 
witness — the last flicker of neuro energy on a 
body no longer intelligently controllable. With 
it the soul’s liberation from earthly bondage has 
begun. Cremation is wholly a matter of fancy, 
or sanitation, but not to expedite the landing of 
souls in heaven. Under no condition can the 
encumbered spirit leave the living body at the 
disposal of and to be obsessed by the disembodied 
spirit. Such impressions can only arise from a 
misunderstanding of the laws of creation, or dis- 
regard for truth. 

“ Like telegraphing pictures to a distance, if 
spirit holds communication his whole personality 


222 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


may go with the message. The impulse launched 
on the sea of neuro atmosphere is yourself, not 
merely the vibrations of the message or thought, 
like the human voice. Scenery as well as persons 
are presented by reflection to others from the nar- 
rator as by the instantaneous process. 

“ You speak of your mother, you think of her, 
see her as she appeared — ^her whole personality is 
before your mental vision — but you have not the 
power to reflect the picture to me, as spirit may 
to spirit, or to you in dreams. In the absence of 
special organs to reflect sight your expression is 
in speech which can only reach the understanding 
through special sense, leaving a very faulty pict- 
ure, created by the hearer’s imagination. 

“ Spirits are cognizant of neuro spheric vibra- 
tions, as you are of those caused by speech. They 
can send a message to its destination according to 
the force available and demanded by the distance. 
Not with the ‘ speed of thought,’ for you cannot 
send your thoughts into the next room, but the 
place of which you think is produced from mem- 
ory as it appeared when you last saw it. 

“ If in learning to direct the vibrations of neuro 
ether man has accomplished much in sending 
messages to distant parts, it is otherwise in modes 
of locomotion. Unencumbered by a physical 
body with its weaknesses — ^becoming tired and 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


223 


diseased, and the infirmities of old age hanging 
over him like a weight hitched to a running horse 
— the spirit’s movements are at the speed attaina- 
ble by thought directed to its object. You walk, 
run, and if you had ^vings you’d fly, all unconsci- 
ous of the work you do, except reminded by feel- 
ing tired or in pain of the limbs in use, but your 
progress is greatly at variance with the desire to 
obtain your object. Divested of physical hinder- 
ances you walk quite as unconsciously with the 
strength of a will perfected by experience and 
knowledge applied to its object. The new bom 
babe is not expected to run a race, or fly ; nor 
can the untaught read revelations from vast space, 
or communicate with the physical life, or move 
faster than knowledge and intensity of purpose 
will permit.” 

“ Then if this is the way spirits communicate, 
when not in close proximity, all the world will 
know what you say,” said Sharp with a feeling of 
having made a point, and Bellman snickerd aud- 
ibly, adding, “ Your demurrer is sustained, there 
can be no such communication, where there is no 
such an existence.” 

For a moment Adelaid halted and her eyes met 
the grocer’s who was about to speak, when she 
quickly recovered, saying : “ Can spirit desire to 
keep it a secret when he praises his God ? Or 


224 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


are others interested when he communicates to a 
friend, or relative, that a sister, or brother, or 
mother is on her way thither? Or, that some 
one has made a discovery to benefit mankind ? 
It may be an innocent man arraigned for a crime 
was acquitted as the noose was drawing tightly 
around his neck. A virtue of a mortal may have 
been recorded, at which it is said angels rejoice. 
There is no love making, save brother to sister. 
There are no millions invested in schemes requir- 
ing secrecy to insure success.” Looking very 
significantly at the lawyer, according to Mrs. 
Perry, she continued : “No wily attorney lends a 
secretive ear to a villain in the toils of the law. 
No man confesses his sins except by his appear- 
ance, his virtues do not need advertising, they are 
reflected in his countenance, as the man who has 
nothing stored in his memory will look stupid, 
and the wicked cannot hide the villainy; for 
knowledge and goodness beautify the features.” 

The force of such language carried with it con- 
viction and had results which the most sanguine 
of the village could never have anticipated. Her 
arguments were clear and logical, and Bellman 
was without a word of reply. Sharp, his trusted 
lieutenant, capitulated without conditions. For 
the moment all eyes were on the speaker’s feat- 
ures which seemed in painful contrast with her 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


225 


reassuring words. But she was not interrupted 
in the few moments of awe inspiring silence. 

Eecovering from the diversion Adelaid took 
up the thread of her argument: “I stood near 
the corner of a street of a large city in a locality 
which I seemed not to have previously known. 
My back was turned towards a long two story 
residence building, standing close to the walk in 
the direction of my right. On my left on the op- 
posite side the houses were of somewhat more pre- 
tentious appearance. Large shade trees opposite, 
overhanging the street, gave the locality a sombre, 
secluded aspect. The buildings were not of a 
modern type, being of low stories and out of 
style. I did not particularly notice those directly 
in front of me, secluded by shade trees, my atten- 
tion being attracted by a man, who, coming from 
my right stopped a few paces from me near the 
comer of the street. A second man came appar- 
ently around the comer in our rear, and approach- 
ing, he asked the first in a familiar manner: 
“What are you watching now?’’ From that and 
the answer, ‘ A band of swindlers,’ given without 
turning, I inferred that he was of the secret police. 
Except to adjust something in the slit breast 
pocket of his heavy, dark blue, long, all bottoned 
up overcoat, he stood perfectly motionless, appar- 
ently observing nothing. Standing on his left, I 


226 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


could just see an inch or two of the polished spiral 
steel spring, protruding from liis pocket, and 
wondered at its use, which I was soon to learn. 
My presence seemed not to cause the least atten- 
tion. Soon after the appearance of these men 
another came from beyond the long building first 
mentioned, passing the detectives unconcerned 
and unsuspicious of danger. A few steps to the 
left of us he stopped and turned with a sweeping 
glance at the surroundings — the tali shade trees, 
respectable looking houses, the seclusion of the 
neighborhood — he impressed me with his words : 
‘ This seems to be a good locality for me,’ spoken 
as if unconscious of our presence, when he went 
liis way ; and the detective near me seemed not 
to notice him — the crucial moment had not yet 
arrived. 

“ The instant he spoke of establishing, or better, 
hiding himself in that locality I was seized with 
forbodings of robbery, or even worse, and this was 
to be the headquarters for their operations. As 
he turned I noticed that he was rather handsome, 
a blond, broad shouldered and Avell built, and of 
good height, about thirty five years of age, wear- 
ing a dark blue, double breasted, tight fitting reefer 
of heavy material, all buttoned up. I compared 
liim with the detective, an older man of dark com- 
plexion, lighter, though well built, and concluded 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


227 


the latter would not be the victor battling with * 
him single handed. 

“ Going only a little ways the man turned, and 
retracing his steps stopped directly in front of the 
detective. Not a word was uttered by either, but 
he had no sooner come to a halt, when the latter 
seized him by his right fist, pulling the arm down 
from his chest, and baring the wrist, the next 
instand the mysterious steel wire intrument was 
snapped on. And now the struggle commenced. 
Oh, the agony of that struggle ! The detective 
holding him by the twister provided with a stirrup 
like handle, and the second man soon joined 
wrestling with the prisoner’s free left hand. I 
pitied him and wondered why he submitted to 
having the twister placed on his arm before resist- 
ance was unavailable? Was he stunned with 
surprise ? His agony, apparent by large beads of 
perspiration in his, I should now say bloated face, 
was pitiable. His features had changed, he was ^ 
not a blond, but had small, deep set, black eyes, 
mere slits, which impressed me with wickedness. 

“ My wife, for I seemed to be a man, was stand- 
ing a dozen steps away amusedly witnessing the 
struggle, and expecting every minute a horrible 
scene, I motionod her away. They twisted and 
writhed, from that side of the house around the 
corner, and were soon inside of the building which 


228 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


seemed to be an unfinished basement. Here the 
man twisted his head back towards the detective, 
which looked frightful, and quickly bringing a 
large, black porter bottle inside his coat pocket to 
his lips, he said, with more suffering than I could 

endure, ‘ Mellener never will ’ the rest of the 

sentence was lost in the struggle. I was so sorry 
for him but felt he must have done something 
dreadful to make this fight for liberty. I nudged 
the policeman’s arm, whose attention was in an- 
other direction, and turning he took the bottle 
and handed it to me, standing on the middle 
of the open stairs. I had no doubt it contained 
poison and reached up to set it on the floor above. 
That moment I awoke in the greatest state of agita- 
tion, blaming myself for not calling the police 
wagon to shorten the struggle, and prevent violent 
treatment of the prisoner which I expected every 
moment to occur. For an hour I was unable to 
get rid of the scene and master my agitation. 

“ In the one hundred thousandth part of a sec- 
ond this dream passed over my mind, which it 
has taken me so long to recite, but only in its 
generalities, details of action and emotion may 
only for a time be remembered and felt, but never 
described. 

“ Slice the cerebrum into sandwiches and it 
gives no pain, only avoiding to wound the tuber- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


229 


cula quadrigemini, which would cause convul- 
sions: No sensibility to ordinary impressions it 
resembles nerves of special sense. But pressure 
on the brain produces a suspension of all its 
powers, causing entire loss of consciousness, like 
profound sleep.” Turning to Dr. Olds, who was 
called in to see one of the Bellman children, she 
asked : “ Does your physiology teach you that it 

was a blood corpuscle ? Too large, or angular, or 
crooked, it could not pass without accommo- 
dating itself to the size of the artery, and formed 
a momentary embolus, causing pressure on the 
brain tissue, which in a more favorable subject 
might have resulted in apoplexy, acute mania, or 
at least a horrible night mare ? The stagnation, if 
you take a less serious view of it, might produce 
anemia of the brain tissue in other parts result-, 
ing in hypnotism, clairvoyancy, and visions. The 
blood in the brain during sleep is said to be more 
dark red, a mere supposition, however, without 
proofs, but it prevents me from charging the intro- 
duction of poisons to the treacherous leucocites. 

“ It is admitted that the senses are dormant, 
yet in dreaming the cerebrum appears to be 
active ? ‘ Sensations seem to suggest a train of 

thought,’ they say, ‘which is not controlled by 
mind. In somnambulism the brain is still more 
active, all the senses are readily affected, except 


280 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


sight. Especially is the cerebellum active, which 
controls balancing. Memory resides in the cere- 
brum and forms one of the first conditions to the 
reasonmg process ! ’ This is all the physiologist 
can teach us. 

“ How they jumble up the senses, sensation, 
the mind, and memory ! First, assurance that 
the senses are dormant, and then — sensations 
suggest the dreams ! Every dreamer will dis- 
prove that there is not an active memory notwith- 
standing all the faculties are ‘ dormant ; ’ and this 
is the w^ay it happens : The senses are dormant, 
and have nothing w^hatever to do with dreaming. 
The dream is caused by the neuro ether vibrating 
the brain ether of the sleeper. It may be indis- 
tinct for want of volume of the neuro vibration ; 
obliterated, or fragmentary, caused by interfer- 
ence weaves, and in most instances the neuro ether 
noise is the cause of the awaking of the brain 
function, and so the ability to reproduce the 
vibration — memory. 

“ Some aw^ake all at once while others require 
several seconds to regain control over their facul- 
ties. In the one hundred thousandth part of a 
second, perhaps millions of vibrations of neuro 
ether caused that dream, as spirit to spirit, near or 
distant, spoke the impulses; or only one alone 
thought of an actual occurrance ; wdio can tell ? ” 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


231 


“ An actual occurrence, more than two hundred 
years ago, not a dream merely, correct even as to 
name ; and the poison left only a corpse to drag 
to the scaffold,” said Harter with unusual agita- 
tion, and excitedly left the room, wondering eyes 
in vain trying to see through the mystery. 

“ Men of the Charcot school of psychologists,” 
said Adelaid considerably embarrassed, “ are pur- 
suing their theories and hobbies — ^though their 
chief has probably learned better ere now — of 
experimenting on half crazy men and women to 
no purpose, since they confound disease with psy- 
chology which lies beyond the human body.” 

The loud tinkle of the supper bell broke discord- 
antly on the ears of the intensely interested audi- 
ence who hung breathlessly on her mysterious 
words, and the earnest, handsome features of the 
speaker. A few remembered their physical wants, 
and she said, “that bell reminds me that we can- 
not yet turn a scornful ear to its prosaic sounds 
— we must go to supper.” 

With closed eyes, resting her head on her hand, 
she sat in a reverie, when she was suddenly dis- 
turbed by Harter who grasped her hand and 
excitedly exclaimed : “ Do you read my thoughts ? 
How do you get these facts ? I have written on 
these subjects for publication. Where have you 
read tliem ? Are you spirit or woman ? ” 


232 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


“ Not- spirit, but hardly woman,” she replied 
faintly, as he ran on talking excitedly ; she had 
not the strength to withdraw her trembling hand 
— such memories as at that moment came to her 
mind. But her good angel was near. On passing 
the door, Aunty called her name, and with a great 
effort she gathered herself up to find composure 
in her room. 

When Bellman was seen at church on the fol- 
lowing Sunday it was one of the greatest events in 
the history of Blight. Staid people voted every 
body a holiday and wondered why the rain clouds 
continued right along to hide the sun, when the 
farmers wanted it to shine on their hay, and why 
the noisy locomotive was just as much in a hurry 
to leave the place, as if its coming there was all a 
mistake ; the busy tongues of the wondering peo- 
ple had to have their say, for the arch infidel 
had not been to church for twenty years, and 
the prayers of the missionaries could not accom- 
plish her feat. She was a wonder ! 

Short sighted people expected and hoped the 
minister would take advantage of the occasion to 
offer special prayer, and even Bellman admitted 
later that he had expected it ; but the preacher 
was of a pleasant disposition and had tact enough 
not to come nearer than, ‘ So there is one among 
us who is in trouble, or going astray, let him not 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


233 


go away without easing bis burden, and finding 
the way to thy grace.’ Mrs. Bellman was deeply 
moved, the tears flowing freely. Sitting bolt up- 
right, Aunty between them, be could see her form 
quivering with emotion. There being no meeting 
at the other bouse the church was crowded, and 
this was how Mrs. Bellman happened to be with 
Adelaid and Aunty, when they met her husband 
and the former with an earnest appeal led him 
back to the church. “ Can I endorse all they say ? 
Only the very ignorant all believe alike. No two 
intelligent persons can think the same, and if I 
differ and cannot follow them they lead me in my 
own path and the hour which I spend there is 
not lost.” 

But she was not done with him. Getting to 
his side on their way home she said : “ You are 

satisfied with your way of thinking, having passed 
so many snares and pitfalls, how is it with your 
children, can a father advise a son who is likely 
to follow his example ? And what is a mother’s 
counsel when the father sets these precepts ? ” 
This was a new point of view, and he had not 
thought his wife took it so hard, he could bring 
her the sacrifice, and go to church with her. 

“ Farther than that I would not press him,” said 
Adelaid, as she rode away, and the minister was 
sorry that she was not of his belief. 


234 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


CHAPTEE XL 

“ Well, sir, all alone at your plowing ? ” The 
questioner was a stylishly dressed lady, young 
and beautiful, the clear musical voice of the 
speaker, of whose presence the plowman until that 
moment was unaware, brought him to a sudden 
halt. He stared in speechless surprise at the appa- 
rition, so unlike anything he had ever seen before, 
suddenly sprung from the earth. Her light gipsy 
hat perched jauntily on her youthful head, close 
fitting waist of gay colored silk, and black habit 
— not very “ citified,’^ she said, when she made 
her debut as an equestrienne — arms grown into 
russet colored gauntlets, her clear complexion, a 
healthful glow of the features heightened by the 
exercise of the ride, bore a strong contrast to the 
sunburned coarseness of the native dames. Lost 
in mute wonder he slowly replied, “ And so are 
you,” but not till she had spoken a second time, 
explaining that something w^as amiss with her 
saddle and required his assistance, could he relax 
his immodest stare and walk over to her side of 
the furrow. She hailed the presence of the farmer 





A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


235 


with gladness, for her saddle was wabbling and a 
stumble or jump might have thrown her, a serious 
accident to a woman alone on the prairie ; it would 
save her the trouble of remounting, with no 
stone or friendly fence in sight. 

In this she was mistaken, for the first thing the 
farmer wanted was the saddle, she had to dis- 
mount, and there being no alternative to taking 
the “ old thing ” to the plow, she sprang lightly to 
the ground. Averse to riding back over the same 
road she followed an unknown trail and now was 
many miles from home, but the buckle was ham- 
mered into shape, “ It might hold till she could get 
somewhere,” how encouraging that was, but she 
was ready to remount and led the horse up to the 
plow. The farmer standing off in mute wonder, 
at last came to his senses, taking the horse by the 
the bridle to crowd him up to her side, only to get 
away the moment she prepared to jump. Had he 
ever lifted a lady in the saddle ? Probably not, 
and that horse would get away as it was, though 
he was on the opposite side. Tired out and not 
knowing what to do the man paused, “ He is an 
unearthly critter anyhow,” he said, starting as he 
caught her playful eye, and added, “ I didn’t 
mean nothing, but if I didn’t think you had come 
out of the earth for sure.” 

“ Did you ever hear the legend of the angels ? ” 


236 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


He shook his head, and said, “ You might tell 
me while we are resting.” 

“ It is a long story I fear you want to go on 
with your plowing.” 

He had another shake of the head, and said it 
was hard plo\ving and the horses needed the rest. 
The man looked so honest and harmless his appa- 
rition had no fear, and going a few steps away 
she sat down in the shade of some hazel hushes 
affording a scanty protection against the burning 
rays of the sun, wdiile he dropped down a few feet 
from her holding that ‘ onery horse,’ as he called 
her colt, that stood wdth all four feet in the space 
of a bushel basket, ready to balk, to kick, or throw 
himself, said the farmer. 

“ When all space was void,” she began, “ and 
chaos reigned, and all w’as darkness, there wtis 
no light, and no heavens, and no space, because 
all was chaos. Then said Spirit kosmos shall 
reign in chaos stead, and worlds shall be created ; 
and there shall be planets, and moons, and suns, 
and vegetations of all kinds shall grow on them, 
and they shall bear seeds, and the seeds shall have 
germs, and the husbandman shall plant the seeds, 
and new plants shall grow, to feed him, and all 
the living creatures, that breathe on the planets. 

“ But Neuro remonstrated, and was angry, and 
there were flashes of lightning, and peals of thun- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


237 


der, and he said : ‘ Where are the creatures which 
are to live on the earth, and the planets, and eat 
the vegetation ? ’ 

And Spirit said : “ Go, thou, and banish thy 
noisy thunder, and thy flashes of light to a place 
called the sun there to abide forever and ever, 
that the deafening noise may not harm the creat- 
ures that shall spring up from the eaidh which 
thou shalt create ; and there shall not be a hus- 
bandman to plant, or to rear them, for in them- 
selves shall they bear their continuity, and they 
shall live and breathe the air, which is around 
them; but there shall come a day when they 
mil bid thee to enter their dwellings, and thou 
shalt with lightning do their bidding, and they 
shall glory in conquering thee. 

“ As thus the Spirit commanded a trembling 
seized Neuro and chaos vanished, and gases col- 
lected in great masses, and formed nebulse, which 
floated on his trembling waves and revolved ; and 
there were continuous flashes of light in the centre, 
which dispersed its rays to all the planets as they 
revolved around it. And there was also the earth 
among the planets, and when it was condensed 
and solidified, for the beasts to walk on its surface, 
living creatures appeared, as Spirit predicted. 
And Neuro delighted in his work and relaxed not 
his labors. 


238 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


“And Spirit was wondering what Neuro was 
doing and went out to see his creations, but the 
latter did not like the interference and was spite- 
ful, and there was a great flash, and a wondrous 
influence of the Spirit vibrated the protein com- 
pounds into life, and living creatures different 
from the others sprang into being, and they were 
called man. Thus was man the creation of the 
Spirit.” She paused to look at the gathering 
clouds, when the farmer said : 

“ Yes, it is very pretty to hear you tell it, but 
what is Spirit, who has seen it, and the other ? ” 

“ What is it that flashes in yonder cloud and 
causes that distant rumble, and after rain has 
descended, the clouds dispersed, all is still again ? 
There was an ether there before the clouds came 
up and interfered with its vibrations ; it is neuro 
ether because similar to nerve and brain ether, 
and it communicates its vibrations to these, as 
one fluid may give a wave to another fluid contig- 
uous to it. When the clouds interfered with its 
motion friction and heat resulted, and the flash 
and thunder are caused. Its vibrations may 
move in waves, without moving the ether, which 
revolve the planets, and dissolve matter into gases, 
they are concentrated to centres of vibration, and 
will in time be condensed and solidified, like this 
earth by the vibratory motion towards the centre. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


239 


“The Spirit presence caused the responsive 
vibration of matter, to neuro ether vibration — 
which is life — to absorb other matter for its 
growth. Spirit is the source of all life, but its 
presence is manifest only in man ; it could not 
give itself individuality except through matter — 
which is man. The Spirit of man is the ether of 
the brain which is vibrated by neuro, and like it, 
is subject to waves of greater magnitude requiring 
greater force, as in thinking ; but only in man of 
living creatures can they have independent, or 
individual results. 

“ Looking at it in another way the brain ether 
having the attribute of vibration by neuro, is 
spirit ether of the Spirit, as music may be said to 
be of the composer as he plays it. The attribute 
of vibration continues after the body dies. If 
Spirit comes to perfection through matter, then 
the spirit of the Spirit cannot return to it when 
wholly free of matter ; nor can it return again — 
reincarnated — to matter. Tliis is the soul.’’ 

“ Where does the soul go ? My wife says I am 
a heathen, and there is a place for the heathens,” 
said the farmer embarrassed. 

“ There is no place for heaven, but whether you 
make it heaven or hell ; and your heaven may be 
her hell, which means a condition of darkest 
ignorance.” 


240 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


“ Then what is heaven ? ” 

“ Wisdom, but that includes all that does not 
spring from the opposite — ignorance, the source 
of all evil.” 

“ And I shan’t have to hear her praying, and 
telling me all my life time there is no matter, but 
only spirit, for that was before matter?” The 
man signally brightened up as he addressed these 
words more to himself than to his instructor. 
“But won’t praying help? I am no good at 
praying,” he added uneasily. 

“She will probably become satisfied that her 
kind of prayer will not advance her any. Your 
crops wouldn’t grow if you sat down here and 
prayed.” An entanglement of the horses which 
had strayed away from the plow, the clevis pin 
being used as a hammer, caused an interruption. 
He threw the bridle to his visitor and ran away 
shouting ho, as he went. 

The clouds which had shielded her against the 
hot rays of the sun became more threatening 
every minute, and there was no shelter for miles 
around. It was an unenviable position, but what 
could she do? Like an inspiration it came to 
her. She had seen the boys of its owner torment 
the colt, striking his knees to get him to kneel on 
the ground, and she now hoped they had been 
successful, and why not try the experiment ? 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


241 


Throwing the bridle over his head a few smart 
blows brought him half way to the ground, in an 
instant to be up again. He was wary, but she 
learned a lesson. Turning him in the direction 
of home she made another attempt, and he came 
fully to the ground. Boy fashion she threw her- 
self across the saddle, as far- as she could get 
before he was up and off in a gallup for home. 
By the time she was in her seat and could control 
the reins she was over a rise of ground, and out 
of sight of the farmer, his voice sounding faintly 
in the distance. 

The storm was rapidly moving towards her, the 
peals of thunder increasing, twilight darkness, 
gusts of wind, alone on this prairie — could shelter 
be reached ? The colt settled into a long stride 
trot, his crooked hind legs proving most effective, 
she held on to her side to keep it from aching, 
for no urging could change him to a gallup. She 
could not forget the farmer, and what an illustra- 
tion of her subject ! But all will be washed out of 
liim before he gets under cover. 


242 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


CHAPTEE XII. 

The opportunity for which Harter was waiting, 
to appologize to Adelaid for his unmannerly con- 
duct, did not arrive for many days, and his 
sensitive nature felt the more mortified for his 
impulsiveness, as he misconstrued her seclusion 
entirely due to the annoyance it caused her. 
Eoni suggested writing an appology, and he was 
glad of the advice without considering that corre- 
spondence might add more to the embarrass- 
ment. The letter was finally ready for Eoni to 
carry to her, it was almost a dissertation on a 
scientific subject, not merely a note of appology. 
He deplored and excused his conduct with the 
great labor, the anxieties, and unavoidable delays, 
and to find another completely in possession of 
his secret ; he admitted some errors, and pointed 
out illogical conclusions in her arguments. His 
regrets were sincere, and he promised in future to 
avoid the subject altogether, his mortified sensi- 
bilities felt relieved, and yet an undefinable feeling 
of self searching crept over him. 

‘ She might not answer, but he had not thought 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


243 


of a correspondence, or any new embarrassment 
turning up, she could send a verbal message, or 
treat it with silence, he did his duty and she 
could not think him a savage who did not care 
how he treated her. He sought his bed relieved, 
and made new plans for the future. 

It was still early morning, but Harter’s impa- 
tience for something to turn up would not allow 
him longer to lie prostrate on his bed ; his mind 
was full of his writings, and the corrections to be 
made, he wanted to do fifty things at once, but 
could not do the one to be done first. The 
M. S. had left its hiding place, but it was a vain 
attempt to rivet his attention to the task of revis- 
ing it. He listened for Roni’s entrance, and 
poohed at his expectancy for news, and when later 
the expected arrived, and busied himself about 
the store, he was disappointed by his silence. 
But on his way to breakfast it occm’red to him 
that she could not have received the letter before 
morning. But only a desire to be especially gra- 
cious might induce her to reply, for which he saw 
no reason. He was one of those who never expect 
anything and are disappointed when they get it. 

It was a surprise when he met Adelaid in the 
hall coming from the dining room with a pleasant 
good mommg, and the assurance that she had 
not thought of the incident since, and had come 


244 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


to his conclusion to avoid a subject wliicli always 
agitated her. But what is one to talk about in a 
country tov^n, and no ladies’ society, it was really 
to avoid meeting gentlemen, or talk masculine 
subjects. The green curtains over the narrow 
side lights produced a bad light, but her features 
were radiant, though her voice sounded hurried, 
a trifle nervous, which escaped his notice, as long 
as his blunder was righted. His spirits rose and 
his appetite improved, but he hurried to his store 
and his work in the back room. 

His pen was often thoughtfully suspended as 
he read over passages which she had expressed 
better than he, and others that sounded fanciful, 
resuming with a shake of the head, but how many 
had taken firm root in his logical mind ! He had 
no faith in her pre-existence, but believed she was 
inspired ; that, as she explained, some one cog- 
nizant of these facts, his family history included, 
gave the impulse to her utterances. And again, 
as he read a passage she had quoted almost ver- 
batim, he was more doubtful, and mused, “ What 
if she was his great-great-grand mother from 
away back ? ” He gave a retrospective glance at 
himself, and the possibility of such a presence 
with her mysterious insight was not reassuring. 
“ Youthful follies,” he sighed, “ how can the best 
escape them?” And there was the traditional 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


245 


red head of the family — one in every generation. 
He grew restless and tossing the M. S. into the 
trunk, hurried out in the air. His overstrained 
nerves were in a fair way for the fanciful. 

A turn around the square brought him to the 
hotel, which was the extent of the promenade the 
village streets afforded ; not long enough to walk 
off the fidgets which had become frequent visitors 
of late ; nor to give time to collect his disarranged 
ideas. And lonely streets could not dispel the 
train of thoughts that caused him to throw the 
book impatiently aside, and newly inspired he 
asked : ‘ Would the world have been the loser, if 
all the books on metaphysical subjects had been 
burned, as he felt half inclined to deal with his ? 
What had been gained by writing on a subject 
only those who solved their problem could feel 
and understand ? Beading another’s thoughts on 
an undemonstrable subject cannot carry with it 
the author’s conviction ; nor was the world made 
better or wiser, for apparently it pursues its usual 
course.’ With these cogitations he stood at the 
street door to the parlor of the hotel. Should he 
go in at this unusual hour, when there was prob- 
ably no one in ? He was about to pass, when a 
voice from within called, “ Step in Mr. Harter.” 
It was difficult not to obey her summons, and in 
a moment he stood confronted by a vision of 


246 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


beauty and elegance that was as unexpected as 
dazzling. 

Speechless with astonishment, and embarrassed 
to find hinself alone in Adelaides presence, he was 
not aware of his awkwardness, or that his eyes in 
so many words sought for explanation of her 
elegant attire. There was no picnic or party, 
and she would not have dressed for it so early in 
the day. He dropped on a chair as if in a state 
of exhaustion, his eyes following every movement, 
as she gave a pinch here or a pull there, and so 
self possessed at other times, he clearly lost his 
head. He was on the point of inquiring for the 
groom and bride’s maids, but delicacy forbade an 
allusion that might be a cruel joke. A pink silk 
gown on an early morning too elegant for ordinary 
occasions. The sleeves in wide puffs at the 
shoulder, plated and closely moulded to her well 
formed arm — frills around the neck like a bou- 
quet of roses. But what is the use of describing 
it when any woman knows better how a wedding 
dress should be made. Ah, the skirt ! And the 
train ! The train beggared description. Was 
there ever anything so elegant and gorgeous in 
Blight ? The sparkling diamonds seemed all the 
more beautiful for ornamenting her alabaster 
throat. And her chapeau of lace, mounted by 
Prince of Wales feathers, rosettes and pompons, 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


247 


looked fantastic compared with the bonnets of the 
ladies of Blight, but it was stylish and becoming 
to her beauty, and such a contrast to the familiar 
headgear. Her step was clastic — she was no 
novice to her station. To say he was lost in 
wonder and admiration was no approximate ex- 
pression of his emotions. She enjoyed his confu- 
sion for a few minutes, still fixing and smoothing 
a fold here or there, viewing herself in the glass, 
I suspect amusedly observing him, when she pre- 
sented a square front view of herself, courtesied 
deeply and extended her hand, as if she had not 
met him for months, and — 0 such a smile ! 

“ Going nowhere,” she answered his bewildered 
gaze, “ because nowhere to go, only trying the 
effect of an evening dress. Did it ever occur to 
you,” she continued with serious animation, “ how 
often we do things with no apparent purpose in 
view, no motive, which nevertheless have most 
startling results ? I know very well now, though 
I could not have explained half an hour ago, when 
I took the whim to try on this dress that I was 
moved by other power than my own thoughts — 
I was not dressing for myself alone, but for an 
audience, coming to see me to admire my pretty 
dress, and here you are. An accident ? 0 yes ; 

and there are many such. That you became 
fidgety, had to seek the air,” he started as if he 


248 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


feared another page of his history, “ drifted this 
way, is of the same kind. But what is the mat- 
ter? Why do you not speak and tell me how 
becoming the combination, how bewitching my 
chapeau, my love of a bonnet, your belles would 
say, and my dress, isn’t that lovely? All this 
stupid Mr. Sharp would say, if he had to read it 
out of a dictionary, for he has never seen a well 
dressed woman — and he would say more foolish 
things if he dared. You were on the point of 
passing by and would have missed it all,” and to 
his horror she moved a chair opposite his and sat 
down. “ Never mind,” she said, “ clothes are 
made to sit down in.” Again she had read 
his thoughts like a book. He was regaining com- 
posure, the illusion was dispelled. He did not 
disavow more knowledge of ladies’ dress than she 
attributed to Sharp — was not his wife’s wedding 
dress pink silk, selected at his suggestion ? 

She interrupted his mood of sad reflections, as 
she said, “ There is so little opportunity here to 
talk alone, when we have so much — I mean your 
book,” she corrected to avert another alarm. 
“ Why don’t you publish it ? ” And before being 
aware of the fact they were deep in the subject 
which they had agreed to avoid. 

“ That is the very subject I was debating on my 
walk, and had almost concluded to give it up.” 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


240 


“ Are you afraid it will not sell ? ” 

“ It will sell as a curiosity, though few will un- 
derstand it, and may find nothing new. Adverse 
criticism will advertise it.” 

“ You are writing for the uninformed, not for 
those who cannot be taught anything new; and 
if there is one in a thousand, who may learn some- 
thing he did not know, you are paid for your 
labor ; if one now held in chains of darkness, may 
gain a shimmer of light, your book should not be 
hidden from him. If I did not know that you 
are a merchant,” smilingly excusing herself for 
her bluntness, “ I should not think you had an 
eye to business.” 

“Gain is not a primary object, but you are 
guaging me at my full value,” he admitted mod- 
estly. “Eoni can sell more goods in an hour 
than I in a day. He sells articles every day that 
people had no idea of buying. Says it brightens 
their intellect, if they get vexed for having bought 
them, and there is nothing lost in our line of 
goods.” Drifting to other subjects time sped away 
on invisible wings towards the dinner hour, when 
they parted at the door. “A happy impulse 
directed your steps to me this morning,” said 
Adelaid almost sadly, as she extended her hand, 
adding : “ I shall be your first reader, and if I am 
the only one your labor will not be lost.” 


250 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


“ You must permit me to present you with the 
first copy hound, and the author’s compliments,” 
he replied gallantly, looking intently in her eyes, 
as he held her hand a moment in his. 

In his natural agitation he perceived no change 
of color in her face, nor did he realize how long 
her trembling hand rested in his ; or if his ever so 
slight pressure caused her cheeks to burn. What 
his sensations were was expressed in two words 
of very flexible meaning — ^his interjection, and 
his swear words. “ By thunder,” he said, as 
soon as the door closed behind him. His head 
thoughtfully inclining to the left in serious medi- 
tation, he stood a moment, as if undecided what 
to do. A conviction too startling to grasp its full 
meaning, had just forced itself upon him, and, 
“ By thunder,” he gasped again in evident sur- 
prise, then walking slowly away a few steps he 
paused a second time repeating the exclamation 
with even more puzzling emphasis, and, “ I love 
that woman?” A fixed determination became 
apparent, as he suddenly twitched his head to the 
right, and with clenched fists added, “ Singe my 
wings like Sharp ? Am I a madman who has not 
yet dried the tears I have shed for her? No 
other one shall ever efface her image from my 
memory ; ” and with determined air and step he 
walked in the direction of his store. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


251 


As for Adelaid it was difficult to estimate the 
meaning of her coquettish condescension. She 
was not one of those who cared for conquests for 
the simple folly of it, but if she had an object in 
being more friendly it might have been prompted 
by sheer desperation or ennui, as had been her ele- 
gant attire in full dress. But Harter was not 
vain and placed no greater estimate upon it than 
what he called good breeding. That she treated 
him with more consideration than others he attrib- 
uted entirely to his labor. She could not be 
amused with a rustic’s attempt at authorship, for 
there was no occasion for it. No, she was serious 
and sincere, and if never before revealed to her 
that he was an educated man this private inter- 
view must have convinced her. She was pleased 
and had gone out of her way to let him know. 

The pages of his manuscript lay scattered about 
on table and bed, but he had not glanced at one 
of them. His great perturbation reached even 
the front part of his store, where Koni was selling 
goods as if he was the owner, undisturbed by the 
steps back and forth in the rear, which Harter 
continued the greater part of the day. Once or 
twice he opened the door, but as all seemed well 
in front he resumed his walks. Eoni thought 
because he saw customers in the store. As the 
afternoon advanced liis plans became settled, and 


252 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


his steps subsided, the true situation was revealed 
to Eoni at supper time, when they locked up. 
“ Belated customers may wait, they were used to 
that before you came, and we have been teaching 
them bad habits.” 

Each busy with his own thoughts Harter broke 
the silence, overcoming his nervousness as he 
continued : “ I shall always be indebted to you 

for so much you have done for me already, first 
in my sickness — I might have died but for you — 
and now in running my store, when I am wholly 
unfit to attend to it myself. But that is not all. 
I want to get still deeper in your debt, but of that 
we will talk after supper.” 

“You are paying me for what I am doing, so 
what is the use in mentioning it. As to your 
sickness I should have been too thoughtless, per- 
haps, to tliink of staying with you, if Miss Adelaid 
had not directed it. It’s to her you owe your 
gratitude.” 

They had arrived at the door and the conver- 
sation was interrupted. Harter’s place at table 
was near the head of the long old fashioned din- 
ing room table with its two rows of chairs still in 
use. A few seats were reserved for the better 
class, and strangers, the crowd falling in wherever 
they chanced. A small table had been introduced 
by special agreement with the ladies, standing a 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


253 


few feet away at right angles with the larger, 
the innovation caused much sarcasm, but the feel- 
ing of envy of those so favored soon subsided. 

Sharp was already in his seat opposite Harter 
dispensing his witicism right and left, when the 
two arrived. His attempt to engage the latter in 
his light conversation proved unsuccessful, but in 
Koni he found an antagonist full of merry retort, 
amusing to the rest. Harter was not in a mood 
for light talk; their previons conversation, and 
Eoni’s reply haunted him, he cast up his liabilities 
to the lady he had sworn a few hours before never 
to meet again, except in the most distant manner, 
and found himself a heavy defaulter. A distinct 
feeling of ungratefulness mefully crept over him. 

‘‘ To her I am indebted for my life — a total 
stranger, whom I must avoid, treat like an advent- 
uress, for which I have no evidence.” He glanced 
over to the ladies’ table and was disappointed to 
see only vacant seats. “ If I had died,” he con- 
tinued his mental soliloquy, “ I might now be mth 
her and under no one’s obligation,” forgetting he 
devoutly hoped there would be no hereafter for 
him. But with all his prudery the memory of 
the dead could not efface the thoughts of the liv- 
ing — he hurried from the table half fearing, half 
hoping to meet Adelaid. 

When Eoni arrived in the store he found Harter 


254 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


pacing up and down the narrow passage between 
barrels and boxes on one side, and the counter on 
the other. As if the conversation was only inter- 
rupted by the lighting of a cigar, he said : “I 
want to be still more indebted to you,” turning 
over an empty box for a seat, while Eoni drew 
himself lithely on the counter. “ I want you to 
attend to my business, while I take a trip East, 
and on my return, if you conclude to remain West 
I propose a partnership that may prove profitable 
to both of us.” 

This then was the plan he concocted in his tire- 
some walks in the back room. Eoni could not at 
once fall in mth his proposal on the plea of the 
old lady speaking of some business East that 
needed urgent attention. He must at least con- 
sult their wishes, regarding his company on their 
return. 

Eoni hastened away after closing time while 
Harter was still reading and arranging his papers. 
For some time all had gone well with him, he had 
almost forgotten that Providence had selected him 
to vent His spite against humanity, but on the 
moment of his doing something his old Pech ( ill 
luck) as the Germans say, seemed to be turning 
up anew ; for what should he do if Eoni could not 
remain ? He could send the M. S. to a pubhsher, 
availing himself of Adelaid’s offer of assistance. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


255 


and more obligations to her, he growled in des- 
pair. But the longings of his heart, remained 
unsatisfied. He anxiously hoped that the morn- 
ing would bring him encouragement. 

After an all night’s dance and a long ride home, 
Eoni arrived at the store an hour late with feel- 
ings that did not betoken a happy response to 
Harter’s wishes. A letter from his mother was 
the cause of his annoyance, a puzzle, in as much 
as she made no mention of Kachel’s engagement, 
only complaining of loneliness, and her old heart 
would go down in grief, with him East, or West. 
She deplored his going away, fearing he would 
make the West his permanent home. He was 
not distressed by her complainings, though he 
loved her dearly, for he was used to it. ‘‘ Some 
women couldn’t be happy,” said the thoughtless 
young fellow, “ if they were not complaining.” He 
reasoned if he should not go East again she could 
join him in the West, without a thought how hard 
it is to root up and transplant an old tree, and 
have it live and thrive in new soil — leaving old 
friends, at her age never to make new. But why 
did she not mention Eachel’s engagement ? He 
could only explain the mystery that it was a trick 
of the girl to compel herself to renounce her 
Christian lover, having seduced him to marry an- 
other. It was only a guess, but she was capable 


256 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


of doing it. “ She is again under the influence of 
her faith,” he said, resting his head sadly on his 
hand, “ and after all it is best I give her up, and 
never go East again. How unhappy she would 
be, and I too, if such a change should come over 
her after marriage.” In his unhappiness he felt 
little inclined to say anything to Harter on the 
subject of remaining, or to rely on the stability 
of his resolutions. “More time,” he answered, 
when the latter opened the door and inquired : 
“ Pech ? ” It is Pech when a German sits down 
on shoe makers wachs; it is Pech when a girl 
goes back on her lover, or writes as Rachel did : 
Sei mir kein Schoute und such I)ir ein anderes 
Schicksje. Eoni understood enough Hebrew to 
know her meaning, and to feel with Harter that 
Providence had selected him to play a mean part 
in life’s drama. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


257 


i 


CHAPTEK XIIL 

To the sorrow of all their friends Adelaid and 
xiunty were making preparations for an early 
departure. Not going directly home, a business 
visit was to be made on the way, but Eoni could 
remain, if he liked. Adelaid was making farewell 
calls, and all expressed sorrow at losing her. 
She was one of those sympathetic souls who form 
sincere attachments for friends and localities, and 
part with regrets. The well meaning sympathy 
of the people had won her heart. The minister’s 
kind words, and the true womanly feelings of 
his wife had endeared them to her warmest affec- 
tion. She said, “ I have called last on you that 
we may have all the time left us for a farewell not 
to be effaced by others. Like the things we treas- 
ure most we give up last. I should not have had 
the heart to call on others after parting with you.” 
Mr. Harding’s kindly offer to pray for her she 
corrected, saying : “ Pray with me, not for me, 
that my own prayers may strengthen me not to 
lose sight of my dearest on earth.” And when 
she left them after a prolonged stay she had 


258 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


promised many times over, to write from her eas- 
tern home. 

Surrounded by friends who all wished to see 
them as long as they had the opportunity, Adelaid 
was the central figure of the conversation. Her 
judgment was often appealed to, and she was at 
pains that even the dullest felt at ease and con- 
tributed to the conversation. Mrs. Bellman said, 
“ It is a great talent to have ready speech, and 
say something worth hearing. I can never think 
of what I want to say till it is too late, or the sub- 
ject is changed.” 

“ I am quite satisfied with her abilities,” whis- 
pered Bellman to Sharp, the latter repeating it to 
the merry company. 

“ It is a good deal in practice, and you may 
improve by training,” said Adelaid. “I have 
known a man, a silent thinker, who could not 
WTite his thoughts, the operation being so much 
slower, he would forget the subject while writing 
the sentences But in time and with pratice he 
succeeded, and was able to hold his thoughts. 

“ I was very tired, both physically and men- 
tally, although it was early in the morning, and 
I wanted to think so much, I was forced to 
lament: How hard it is to think of something 
worth writing ! I have heard others say the same 
in a still broader sense — I never have any thoughts 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


259 


— not realizing that the mind is always active, 
and you would be astonished to see your thoughts 
in print, presented coherently, and systematically. 
And here is the difficulty. To present a spoonful 
of thought in a palatable form writers often write 
chapters, and some whole books to give it appre- 
ciative appearance. Rapid writers must be sys- 
tematic thinkers. Great thkikers are not able 
continuously to have their thoughts on a subject. 
The science of thinking lies in the secret, or the 
ability to revert to a subject, and joining the frag- 
ments into one continuous whole. This requires 
practice, patience, and experience to put them 
properly together, as well as to revert to them for 
development. It is here where people often fail 
to solve problems.” 

Music and song were freely dispensed, and 
Adelaid played the simplest she could command, 
for Harter was never at their socials, though he 
was informed in regard to their intended journey. 
Sharp attributed his absence to getting ready for 
a journey, but Adelaid divined other reasons for 
avoiding these circles; he sat moodily in his 
room, or walked the floor, unable to fix his atten- 
tion on his work, and after his meals he avoided 
the parlor. He was offering his store for sale, and 
said to Eoni, “ After you all go away what is there 
left, for which one wants to stay here ? ” 


260 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


It was settled at last between Koni and Harter, 
and the latter made all necessary preparations for 
his intented journey. He had gone out and the 
young man hoped for his farewell call, or to 
arrange accompanying the ladies, on tomorrow, 
as far as he was going. He felt as if he must 
resent his indifference after all they had done for 
the grocer. The good fortune of realizing his 
heart’s desire had not improved his moods, he was 
even more reticent, and beyond a polite bow to 
the ladies who both looked up as he entered the 
dining room Harter took no notice of his sur- 
roundings till he left the table. He was alive, 
however, to a sense of duty, if not in the sym- 
pathy of a feeling heart, to say a last farewell to 
the strangers, and express his gratitude, and wish 
them a bon voyage. Looking him tenderly in the 
face, Adelaid expressed her regrets for not having 
seen more of him of late, and he supplemented 
his trivial excuses by promises to visit her in the 
East, which he did not intend to keep. Grasping 
both by the hand, with his eyes to the floor, in a 
moment more he was gone. 

At any other time Adelaid would have cate- 
chised herself closely to find a reason for his 
avoiding her, and for the strained, unsocial feeling 
which had sprung up between them; but in the 
hurry and excitement of going on her return 


A MYSTEEY EXPLAINED. 


261 


journey, so many waiting to have a last word, she 
hoped to see him again in the morning, and 
passed upstairs, as he vanished through the door. 

The sombre hues of evening seemed more in 
harmony with Adelaid’s feelings, as she sat in the 
unlighted room, her eyes half closed, her head 
leaning on her hand, engaged in the unprofitable 
pastime of reviewing her past. Eeveries of an 
unhappy woman are not apt to dwell on the happy 
events of her life most, but she tried to pick her 
way carefully through her experiences, and it was 
with her dear father by her side she had seen her 
happiest days. How she played with him as a 
child, he being father and mother, and in his lei- 
sure hours her constant playmate. The mother 
she had never known, w^as younger, when she 
left the father heart broken with his little daugh- 
ter. Yes, she w^as older — do people age after 
death? It must be so, or how odd to meet a 
younger mother ; or is there no mother, no father ? 
She gave a little start, as if tapped on the 
shoulder. “This is drawing conclusions from 
false premises,’^ she soliquized ; “ reasoning from 
a physical standpoint to guage the spirit growth ; 
in sight of your physical condition, you see not 
that a spiritual state finds you an infant in the 
spirit, when you meet your girl mother who all 
these years has grown in heavenly estate.” She 


262 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


was getting sad dwelling on so serious a subject, 
and made a leap over those j^ears, when men and 
women are held responsible for their acts, to the 
last few months. She had just arrived at the 
question : What had she done, what gained ? She 
had recovered her health, many another may have 
lost his, or fared even worse — when a tap on the 
door startled her out of her position. A farewell 
call. She brightened up to meet the visitor, but 
to her surprise it w^as Bellman with the request 
to decide a dispute between himself. Sharp, and 
Harter. 

“ Mr. Harter here ? ” she asked much surprised. 

“ Some business with Sharp detained him,’^ 
and Bellman descended the stairs ahead of his 
guest. 

And this is what she heard Harter say as she 
stepped in the parlor : “ Here you can commit 

suicide, rid yourself of your existance, and as 
many suppose also your misery ; but there is no 
escape from your tribulation that comes there- 
after, no committing of acts of violence to get 
away from it. Your only chance will be to over- 
come yourself, change yourself, to become content 
and happy with the happiness that abounds. How 
quickly I would step across the Eubicon ! but if of 
two evils I have to have one here and dropping 
that must take up the other there what have I 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


263 


gained? There may be modifying conditions, 
but contentment will depend on your own efforts. 
Here is Miss Adelaid, state the case according to 
your understanding.’’ 

Having listened to Sharp Adelaid replied : “ I 

do not understand a return to earthly form that 
way, Mr. Sharp, and having no demonstrable 
knowledge, memory supplies the want, and you 
will know my meaning better, by relating an inci- 
dent : One to whom I am ever drawn, wtII languish 
as content steals over me. The Spirit pines, and 
pales, and shrinks away, becoming but a remnant 
of its former self, and suffers death as spirits 
would in human language say. I have traced his 
earthly reappearance, where I am solaced by his 
side to be the first to greet him when his task is 
over. I have followed him myself to earthly 
form, but earthly conditions are not such that we 
may recognize a previous companionship, or be 
directed by attraction ; or know if a change has 
taken place, any more than the dying can trace 
the approach of death, or how small the thread 
of life may run. There are those who can assist, 
and give light to the helpless, pining soul, to fur- 
ther it on its way of progress and advancement in 
spiritual wisdom. It removes it from that longing 
to return to earth again, in comparison of which 
all greatness seems as naught, all passion but a 


264 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


virtue till heaven, that spiritual state after death, 
is no longer an abiding place. Fortunate they 
who can have such light ! 

“ The meaning of attraction is not in an earthly 
sense to fill out what is lacking in the other sex 
to complete a whole. The premises of such rea- 
soning are erroneous and from a vicious, earthly 
understanding. Attraction presupposes ideality 
of thought and heavenly inspiration, which stimu- 
lates for higher effoi-ts, and renders assistance 
when in complete accord. This is the attraction 
one has for another — the supplying of what the 
other lacks to complete the wdiole. The vulgar, 
earthly mind finds other meaning, from which the 
soul can never soar to higher planes, wisdom and 
goodness, for wisdom is holiness, whether on 
earth or in heaven.” 

Adelaid spoke with such earnestness that even 
Bellman listened without his usual sneer, and 
Sharp seemed to absorb every word she uttered, 
while Harter sat wdth averted face, like one who 
dreads every word lest it should reveal some 
dreadful secret. There were others — the minister 
had dropped in and was perplexed at her perora- 
tion. She continued : 

“At this moment I see myself in a picture 
which, it seems, happened ages ago, it may better 
convey to you my ideas. My story turns around 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


266 


a certain mill wheel of which I spoke before. The 
water did not flow for a long time, the wheel 
could not be turned, as in our childish way we 
said, a heavy coat of ice encasing it. It was 
very cold and out doors was little joy for children. 
Why I was there, or how I came there, I did not 
understand, for although I did not belong to them 
who ever they were, no one else seemed to have 
a claim on me — I was just staying there. But 
now I see only him, several years younger than 
myself, as he trundled out on a sunny day pomp- 
ously saying : ‘ I will catch a fish.^ It was not 
long before I too followed him and saw him quite 
a distance from the house on the creek in the 
narrowest part of the valley. lie did not hear 
my calls, and frightened by a great noise, I ran 
to him and had no sooner caught him by his 
chubby little hand than a great wave of water 
rolled over us, and swept us into the bushes. He 
was frightened and cried, and I told him to hold 
on the bush, as I did, that we should soon be 
taken out of the water by the men with their long 
boots on. 

“ He soon was very still, and I did not cry out, 
when struck by a floating board, or piece of ice, 
which almost knocked me from the bush, for fear 
of alarming him anew. With catching breath I 
continued to encourage him, that we should soon 


266 


A MYSTEEY EXPLAINED. 


have on dry clothes and warm ourselves at the 
fire — ^it was very cold in the water. Then all was 
dark. I learned later how on the way home, 
being carried in strong arms, I repeated my 
prattle, ‘ to hold on, we should soon be in the 
warm room,’ not knowing that while my head was 
barely above water, he was quite submerged. 
They told the story over and over again, how I 
tried to save him who was standing lifeless at my 
side ; and the strong men wept, as the story 
passsed from mouth to mouth, and thought it was 
a pity we could no longer play in the brook. 

“ The lady who came for us said she was my 
mother, and that we were now going to live with 
her, where the water would not reach us; we 
were still in fear of being drowned. Botinus was 
now as tall as I was, and for a long time we had 
our lessons together, but it was apparent that he 
could not keep up with me, and that my assist- 
ance, did not have good results. I was taken to a 
school and after a protracted absence found him 
so changed, it was difficult to realize he was the 
same. He pined and shrank from my approach, 
which left me prostrated, and unable to make any 
effort. When I recovered sufficiently to realize 
the situation he had vanished, and none could 
tell me his abiding place. 

“Determined to find him I set out without 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


267 


peace or rest till I found the mill. I followed 
every clue, but my search was fruitless, none 
knew his name, or whereabouts. In the ruins' of 
an ancient castle a man was sitting in a niche, 
who aroused my curiosity. I had seen the place 
before, but with him sitting there the scene was 
familiar at first, and soon I recognized my former 
habitation. At his feet lay a bundle of herbs 
which he had gathered for a decoction, but he was 
not a shepherd, nor an herb gatherer; he had 
the appearance of a gentleman at leisure, or a 
student. A mournful smile lit up his hand- 
some, manly features, as he surveyed the crum- 
bling heap, saying: ‘Here, history has it, my 
ancestors once reigned, and played, and met the 
storms of life. They little thought posterity one 
day would hide beneath the garb of physic all 
that is left of the untamable von Hartmann.’ 

“ ‘Ah, not Botinus ? ’ Said I disappointed, and 
was losing interest in him, when he drew forth a 
pencil and made a sketch, at which he seemed to 
be an expert. Almost his first curve arrested my 
attention, more from curiosity than expectation, 
and as I followed him from line to line, it became 
evident he was tracing the features of my mother 
placed on younger shoulders. Her slender hand 
clung to a willow bush, her lithe form seemed as 
if swayed by rushing water. Her other hand held 


268 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


that of a little boy, who, growing with each line 
he drew, was standing by her side. In my exul- 
tation I could not wait to see the water rush upon 
them. The lost was found. The noise I made 
awaked him, and the vision I impressed, was 
it a dream ? 

“ In my boundless happiness I seemed to have 
the form of mortals, and could be always with 
him. Like the vision after restful sleep continues 
the delusion, till the full awaking surveys the 
scene again — or was I lost in thought ? I looked, 
and all was changed. All had disappeared, like 
dream walls, never real. The ruins of my former 
home had melted into mist, expectation crumbled 
into dust. The land was strange and new — 
a wilderness to my former home, and all around 
me was darkness and despair — desolate night. I 
was alone — and he ? Was it a dream ? ” 

At her first allusion to the mill Harter moved 
nervously on his chair, and his restlessness seemed 
to grow on him, as she proceeded with her story 
of the drowning children ; but when she called the 
boy Botinus he was on his feet and stepped to the 
open door, as if overcome by heat, or ready for 
flight. His excitement was noticed and it was 
thought he was ailing, but Adelaid was undis- 
turbed, and when she mentioned von Hartmann, 
the untamable, the effect was unexpected. He 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


269 


suddenly turned, taking a step towards her he 
huskily demanded, “ Where do you get your story 
and those names ? ’’ Calmly, sadly smiling she 
looked at him a moment as if to answer, and then 
continued her story to the end, when he left with 
an abruptness that was even more surprising. 

It excited much astonishment, but Adelaid 
made no comments. The high color of her feat- 
ures might have been due to the heated room, or 
the unceremonious departure of Harter, but her 
voice betrayed no emotion, when she bid the com- 
pany good night to retire to her room. She had 
apparently not noticed anything amiss ; even the 
question for her story, and the names might have 
been prompted by curiosity. Not so some of her 
listeners. There was a shoH consultation, and 
Bellman, and Sharp, and the minister, too, agreed 
“ that there was something wrong with that man,” 
said Sharp. Or “ that lady,” suggested the Eev. 
Mr. San dish, who could not forget she had raised 
the debt of liis rival’s church. 

“ No, no,” insisted Sharp. “ He looked like a 
criminal, or one meditating suicide, and it is best 
we speak to him.” 

It was a late hour when Sharp and Bellman 
seperated, their debate being often heated, if not 
logical; the latter maintaining Adelaid knew 
Harter's history by mind reading, wdiile the former 


270 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


had the best of the argument, advancing that 
some of the incidents of the drowning of the boy 
were dark even to Harter, and he had not thought 
of them for many years till that moment. Bell- 
man began to waver, as Sharp advanced, being 
the better talker, one having as little foundation 
for argument as the other, that if she had not 
been an actual participant in those scenes there 
must be spirits around her w'ho impressed her 
with dates, incidents, and names, all, as Harter 
says, correct ; and no living woman on this con- 
tinent in possession of his family history — Adelaid 
a total stranger. 

The mystery was deeper than even Harters 
philosophy could explain, being haunted by a 
living creature unconscious of kinship to him was 
not explainable by human reasoning. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


271 


CHAPTER XIV. 

The consternation of Cornelius Cob at the dis- 
covery of the unaccountable disappearance of his 
mysterious visitor, after his experience with that 
‘ unearthly critter,’ was even greater than the per- 
plexity of the men in Blight at the uncanniness 
surrounding Adelaid. His surprise at their sud- 
den disappearance, after his ineffectual efforts to 
get that horse to stand, can neither be imag- 
ined nor described. He was too busy with the 
disentanglement of his horses, and quite a stretch 
away from her to have heard anything going on, 
but turning to go back to the plow, he suddenly 
was aware that he was alone, nor was there a liv- 
ing object visible over all that vast expanse of 
gras. Shocked even more than at her sudden 
advent, the lines and whippletree dropped from 
his hands, and he ran like mad to the bushes, 
where he had left her, as if a closer inspection 
must reveal his mistake. An indescribable fear of 
a terrible accident seemed to have robbed him of 
his senses. He ran about looking for her mangled 
body in the grass ; and shouting elicited no answer, 


272 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


or other evidence of life around him. Nor could 
he find any hoof prints in the grass, where he left 
her but a half a minute ago. It was clear beyond 
him to explain how she could have mounted that 
horse which his strength could not restrain. “ That 
was no common horse,” he muttered, staring 
intently at the spot by the hazel hush, as if she 
must reappear from the ground, and he was sorry 
too, for he had never been so deeply interested, 
or so highly entertained. Then, as if seized with 
fear, his thoughts taking a new direction, he sud- 
denly left the field for home, throwing many fur- 
tive glances behind him. 

The drenching rain fell on the man, uncon- 
scious of its deleterious effects, and he made no 
complaint, nor haste for shelter, and the calls of 
Mr. Crab, a neighbor, could not distract his mind 
from his late experience, so startling in the life of 
a simple countryman. He was walking in a 
dream of the incidents of his vision. Her ideas 
on the subject of their conversation were phenom- 
enal, new and different from anytliing he ever 
heard, or knew of being knowm. The beauty of 
her teachings was in its simplicity, the ease to 
understand — it was truly a revelation. 

He was enchanted, and bewildered what to do. 
Should he let any body know, or could he enjoy 
it all alone? The untrained man, would they 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


273 


believe him ? No, silence would be best, or write 
it to surprise his survivors. 

“ Was it a miracle he asked. Her expression 
and the simple meaning of her words, her sweet 
persuasive voice and smile, her flow of language, 
all passed in a jumble, through his mind and 
filled him with the belief that she was more than 
mortal. Her great beauty seemed unearthly, as 
he compared her with the women whom he knew. 
If he could imagine an angel speaking, it must be 
just as she spoke, as she looked ; her personality 
in harmony with the import of her thought gave 
force to what she said, made itself understood, and 
carried conviction to her listener 

She made no boastful speech, used no forceful 
argument, or emphasis, but simply said it and 
the meaning came by her expression ; her smile 
convinced, the simplicity of her messages carried 
the truth which admitted of no misinterpretation. 
He was sure he had seen a vision, but was 
it possible a vision could talk to him ? He almost 
doubted his senses, but he was informed on sub- 
jects which he never knew before, that was proof 
that what he saw and heard was no delusion. 
‘ She may be a long time praying, and searching 
for the truth which comes not by incorrect pre- 
mises,’ he repeated, and w^here did I hear this, if 
not from her ? And ‘ your heaven will be as you 


274 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


make it, not where you must find it ! ’ It was 
easy to recall the last : ‘ Your heaven will be of 
your own making,’ and you can change it to a hell ; 
hut the first taxed his faculties to remember the 
wording and play of the features, lest an omission 
cause discord in her meaning. But at last he 
settled on the right. His wife’s prayers were for 
the ‘ truth ’ of imagination, although she claimed 
it was the ‘ new truth ’ which had come to her in 
daily potions, she was filled, saturated, pr. oris 
and hypodermically administered — its the way 
of proselyting monomaniacs, crazed by the trash 
rehearsed at the seances of the so called ‘ advanced 
thinkers,’ mercenary people — mostly healers. 

A tutor with more time than education, an old 
man’s dollars, attending cheap lecture courses, 
applied a wash too transparent to hide the unreal 
from the real, but the judgment is weakened the 
less frequently it appeals to reason. One zealot 
begets another; dissatisfied with the old, it’s 
Buddhism, inner consciousness, theosophy, rein- 
carnation, one today, another tomorrow, all with- 
in a week — reason without a balance wheel. 

Cornelius Cob was very sure it was the prosely- 
tor had caused him all his trouble. He was of 
slow action and speech, and had not much educa- 
tion, but on such subjects as came in his way he 
did all the more original thinking, his wife’s fre- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


275 


quent attempts at proselyting had no effect. If 
he had any convictions they were expressed in 
these words : ' Two thousand years and more had 
been safe with the old, he guessed it would last his 
life time.’ He gave the subject no further consid- 
eration, woman’s impulsive agitation finding no 
favor with him. He was truth itself, Mr. Crab 
said, too honest for a poor farmer. Since the day 
of his change. Cob avoided the neighbors, he had 
not spoken to his wife, and performed no labor, 
which she considered unaccountable, for he did 
not know what idleness was. 

His wife had seen him write on paper, and 
refer to a little school dictionary. She offered to 
spell the words for him, but he would not gratify 
her curiosity, although he consumed much time in 
his search. Her tactics failing, she read her ser- 
mons and manuals of health to hide her chagrin, 
and annoy him. The neighbors wondered at 
Cob’s leisure and reticence, attributed it to family 
differences, and he had their sympathy. The 
struggle with the horse in the field had been dis- 
covered, which gave new food for surmises, the 
hoof prints differing from those of old horses. 

His unhappy relations to his wife were known, 
she said, ‘ her salvation was worth more to her 
than a man’s happiness,’ and she was suspected 
of some new atrocity. It had certainly never 


276 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


been known that a man’s virtue was a barrier to 
marital felicity, and the neighbors said she was 
peculiar ; but he took her at her word, which she 
may not have expected. 

The first wound to his self respect came early 
in Cob’s life, and wherever fate sent him it 
followed. A conscience cannot prevail against 
fatuity. Herself an empty shell, one who must 
be pious to be religious, a zealot, she succeeded to 
make a convert, and Cob said, ‘ sin and saint are 
poor bed fellows.’ It was a bitter dose, but he 
purged worldliness out of the way of salvation. 
The burglar can never feel the wrong in stealing 
another’s goods, but the owner laments this w^ant 
of conscience. 

For many years Cob lived an hermit in his 
family, nursing his grief with unuttered com- 
plaint, without rapprochement, not a smile to 
light up his honest, manly countenance. Verily 
suicide commends itself to the aggriever for the 
relief of the aggrieved. Had he been without 
reproach? You can make much of a man or 
little. Unselfishness was his bitterest enemy, his 
endeavors were for the good of all to the neg- 
lect of individual interests, and he had the mis- 
fortune of being left a poor man at fifty, when his 
latest awakening came. In this plight he had 
taken up a small claim, where we first meet him, 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


277 


where at no very distant day he expected to build 
himself a home, having no interest in his wife’s 
farm, and make her salvation complete as far as 
his presence was concerned. How he succeeded 
we shall learn later on. 

In the consciousness of his predominating social 
and intellectual standing Mr. Crab conceived it to 
be an insult longer to be left in ignorance of what 
had taken place in that field, and what was the 
matter with this man, who dared to keep his own 
counsel, without consulting him as formerly. Or, 
if, as some of the neighbors suggested. Cob’s mel- 
ancholy should at any time become serious it was 
best to know it in time. Crab was not ceremoni- 
ous in his dealings with his neighbors. 

Cob was sitting as usual in front of the house, 
a small, one story frame building with a door 
directly opening into the kitchen which also 
served as dining room, a small bed room, and 
what in society is called the parlor, were all the 
rooms down stairs. The stairs ran up in the 
kitchen to the loft, as up stairs was called, which 
consisted of two sleeping rooms. It was Sunday 
morning, he wore neither coat nor vest, and on the 
approach of a visitor a scrap of paper was hastily 
crammed into his pants pocket. The sun was 
shining hot, but the bench which he had con- 
structed in happier days for the benefit of the 


278 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


family was still in the shade, as Crab, exchanging 
salutations took a seat by his side, and for once the 
visitor was at a loss how to approach his object. 
He found it harder than expected to pry into a 
man’s secrets who is un\villing to impart them. 

The plowing, the rain, the crops were brought 
forward, but proved no subjects in which Cob felt 
any especial interest. Mr. Crab was getting dis- 
couraged and prepared for retreat, with a laugh 
remarking it was near meeting time, and every 
body ought to be in church ; he was one of those 
who believe churches are good for other people, 
but Cob quickly replied : 

“ Then why don’t you go ? I know of no one 
who has more room for its benefits. As for my- 
self I have better than they can give me.” 

Although Crab was piqued at Cob’s reference 
to his morals, he was politic and eagerly inquired : 
“ What is it you have, can you share it with me ?” 
He was more than expectant for an answer, and 
could not conceal it ; was this the man’s secret ? 

Answering Cob asked : “ Did you ever see 
anything you did not know how it came, nor 
how it disappeared, and where it went?” Crab 
drew away a little as if in fear of a man of such 
delusions. 

“ Now, Cob, such a thing can never be, but I’d 
say, it’s — ah, the devil ’s playing pranks on you.” 


A IVrySTEBY explained. 


279 


“ That’s it. Ever been nearer the devil than the 
other. No more like that than an innocent babe 
is like a murderer. She was an angel, if they 
ever visit the earth. That horse might have been 
borrowed of the one you mentioned,’' he added in 
an undertone. 

Crab looked at liim curiously, wondering if the 
man was responsible for what he said. The un- 
complimentary reflection for the second time was 
a surprise, he felt as if he was losing cast ; but 
he concealed his chagrin at the offensive language, 
and before night a dozen families in the settle- 
ment had heard of “ Corn. Cob’s vision,” which 
became a by word and furnished food for gossips 
for a month. She was beautiful, who would not 
have pleasant memories of such a visitor ? 

A slight rustle behind him caused Cob to move 
away — the window was open and it was not for 
her ears to hear what he had to say. The con- 
versation with Crab awakened new interests and 
next morning found him early on his way to the 
plowing. A feeling of reverence came over him 
as he neared the field ; but he did not expect his 
visitor of a week ago. Instead of his vision a 
party of horsemen were now sitting around him, 
not finding him at home they followed to the field, 
listening with incredulous smiles, and plying 
the timid man with questions, born of a spirit of 


280 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


incredulity uppermost in their minds. They soon 
became serious as Cob was more talkative — what 
had he ever known of the causes that suspend the 
stars, the earth, and the sun, and revolving them 
with a surrounding cushion, or belt of ether, 
— like floating on a mill pond— on this ether, pres- 
ent throughout the universe, and readily seen 
during a storm in the clouds ? ” 

Cob may have told his story somewhat mixed, 
but he had a good memory and w'as fully occupied 
with his subject, and not likely to lose the leading 
facts of it. Eelating the legend an old man rev- 
erently uncovered his head, his feelings having 
undergone this marked change. Cob solemnly 
declared, “ And she sitting there, telling me that 
by the Spirit presence life was awakened in mat- 
ter, for vibration is life, and that man could not 
be created spirit, except through matter, his crea- 
tion is completed at the death of the body.” 

He paused and after a few moment’s reflection 
said, “ That is what she said, not exactly her 
words, but that is what she said. Now do you 
see the point right here ? It is folly to assert there 
is spirit in stone, earth, w’ood, and other inani- 
mate things, because spirit was before matter, it 
filled the universe. ‘ Matter is therefore an illu- 
sion — it is. spirit.’ If spirit is in inanimate things 
it must also remain in the body after it ceases to 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


281 


vibrate with life, would have to be buried with it, 
a wet rag laid in a basin of water cannot lose its 
moisture, there is no room outside to escape, and 
no independent existence after death.” 

Here the old man interrupted, saying : “ Cob, 

I understand it all, but I could no more tell any- 
body than that horse, and I want my old woman 
and every body to hear it. This must not be lost. 
And the way we have been living here is all wrong 
and must stop. We have not cut each other’s 
throats, but. we have been selfish enough to let 
each struggle for himself as best he could. Your 
plowing isn’t deep enough, it is too much for two 
horses, I have one to spare and will send old 
Nance over in the morning. I want to hear it all 
over again, and what more you have to say, and 
my old woman will be dying to hear it. There is a 
bottom to it that I never heard before, never had 
an idea of a spirit beginning.” 

“ That is to what I was coming, and you would 
be amazed to know how plain it is — it is the com- 
mon sense there is in it — but I must be plowing.” 

“ No, no,” said the old farmer, “ unhitch your 
team, and go home now. We will all come to 
your house tonight. I’ll bring the old woman — ” 

“ It’s too far for some of you,” he said quietly, 
and they suspected the cause of his objection and 
agreed to meet at Mr. Hays’. 


282 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


CHAPTEE XV. 

War often produces great generals of men who 
in peace may be very poor drill masters, and the 
poorest strategist may be elegant on parade ; but 
here was the opportunity for Cob, the man with- 
out education, and no talent to speak, no smart- 
ness or aptitude ; and he could not be prayed to 
repentance, for he did not know what it was, nor 
of what he was to. repent. He might have felt 
sorry for being in existence, but for that he was 
not to blame, nor was he accountable for not dy- 
ing of measles. But now it was all different. 
A fair index finger pointed, and he followed the 
direction. He saw a comprehensible beginning, 
and the finger directed towards a logical conclu- 
sion that admitted of no doubt. A cyclone of 
education could not have carried him along with 
more force, could not have developed his mental 
capacity more rapidly than did the clearness of 
this idea. He saw before him a reality where he 
had only seen a vague possibility. 

Keeping the beginning and the outcome before 
him, the landmarks, set out here and there, led 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


283 


him on in bis rapid advance to master the whole. 
He disclaimed any of these ideas as his own, but 
the fair index of his instructor. “ This is not the 
way she said it, but it is what she said,’’ he frequ- 
ently assured his hearers “ Her language was as 
plain as yes and no. Yes, and as I can see her 
before me this instant, saying it, but it is hard to 
repeat it as it came from her lips : ‘ Fill a sponge 
with a fluid and lay it in a basin of water, would 
you expect it to run out, and where can it go ? 
Then if everything you see is spirit you are only a 
drop of the whole, going backwards from an inde- 
pendent thinking and acting man, the spirit of 
your body is like the fluid in the sponge, death robs 
it of its individuality. There can be no resurrec- 
tion.’ That is the way she stated it and I could 
n’t help getting it through my unlearnt head. It 
nearly took my breath away, I had never been 
able to grasp the idea, anyhow, and here it was 
plain before me — an argument that cannot be 
explained away with that starting point in view.” 

It was very embarrassing to talk before so 
many people, all looking at him, but Mr. Hays 
helped him over his diffidence with questions of 
what they already heard in the field. After the 
conversation became general the women took part 
with many questions, how she looked, was she 
dark, or fair, hght hair, blue eyes, angelic, somber. 


284 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


in tears ? Her teachings had excited interest in 
her personality. But he never could describe her. 
He never saw anybody who looked as she did, her 
hair was golden, and her features as delicate as a 
wax doll, new from the store. With that his des- 
criptive powers seemed to have reached their 
limits, but not his questioners, one asked why he 
did not lift her in the saddle ? 

“ What, touch her baby foot with my dirty, big 
hands ? he exclaimed in amazement. “ Why 
the big toe of an ordinary woman could not wear 
her shoe, and she was taller than any of you, but 
who could have held that horse with one hand ? ” 

Before they seperated it was agreed where to 
meet the next Saturday evening, and the scoffers 
entered into the matter with a seriousness quite in 
contrast to expectations. The women were firm 
in the belief that she was something mysterious. 
Her youthful appearance was in no comparison 
with such a fund of knowledge, while her arrival 
might have been explained, her disappearance 
gave them the shivers. 

It quite upset Cob’s temper to have it suggested 
to confront his wife with this explanation of spirit 
in matter, and on the way to his horse he told 
Mr. Hays, “ You might as well persuade a preacher 
forty miles from home not to preach on total de- 
pravity, when he has no other sermon in his bag, 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


286 


as to tell these Tmthers what is past their under- 
standing. They have never been able to grasp 
the fact that there is no more enjoyment for the 
pure than the impure which enter the great spirit. 
Like poring a drop of clear and a drop of dirty 
water into a basin of clear fluid, the impure will 
be the gainer at the expense of all the other, un- 
less inividuality is preserved, for it is fallacy to 
talk of reincarnation for the purpose of purging 
away the impure, because this admits only of 
individuality.” 

Mr. Hays was elated with this little private ser- 
mon, and amused at Cob’s estimate of a preacher 
on that side of man’s morals, as on a par with a 
Truther. That view of man’s ethics, which not 
only makes him bad from the beginning, but gives 
no credit when finally salvation comes, is a singu- 
lar misunderstanding of his nature. He is neither 
all bad, nor, as the other side would have it, all 
good, but moulded by circumstances and condi- 
tions of life for the worse. 

That animal nature is selfiish may be discov- 
ered as low down in the scale as sufficient intelli- 
gence exists to show it. It always is dog in the 
manger. A bone is never given up without a growl. 
Selfishness exists from the beginning of man’s 
nature, and is ‘ witnessed in the cradle, growing 
into vice vith the development of the man ; or as 


286 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


circumstances may mould him, the wee small 
spark of spirituality too often succumbs to these, 
if not to his physical condition. 

Man’s animal depra\dty is from an immoderate 
satisfying of physical wants, the better judgement 
losing control. That better judgment expressing 
all that is good in him, springs from prudential 
reasons, or emotions, the result of cultivation. 
But it is not the physical man who can be 
changed, or trained, to relinquish the demands of 
nature for the time in the ascendent ; and salva- 
tion can be aught else but excitement, never a 
development of a principle. 

The salvation of cultivation is the development 
of the faculties that elevate man above the animal, 
control his brute nature. Though slower of devel- 
opment, the spirit of man, the developable prin- 
ciple existed from the beginning. And man is 
therefore all good from his very origin. 

For a time the animal seems to dominate, but 
the total depravity side are building on an aerial 
foundation to maintain that the good in man is 
dependent on a special process of the imagination 
— salvation. The preying on the imagination to 
evolve emotions causing the abandonment of bad 
practices, and acknowledging his total depravity, is 
based on the theory that he is born in sin. From 
an infant he has fought for playthings and bawled 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


287 


when he could n’t have his own way, his parents 
before him have done the same. But the animal 
is tamed, and the all good of his spiritual being is 
attributed to a higher intercession, vicarious 
atonement, or a miracle. Accordingly he may 
be a moral improvent, but still a depravity. 

Many writers hold to the total depravity side. 
Bruneteau denies that mankind contains in itself 
the germ of permanent improvement, and agrees 
with Calvin that ‘our nature is not only really 
empty of good things, but so fertile in all manner 
of evil ones, as to be always actively engaged in 
their propagation.’ He finally shows the stuff he 
has in him, asserting that in the ‘ implanted spir- 
itual nature ’ of man, he finds the only source of 
improvement for a race whose ancestors are to be 
found in the Zoo. One is tempted to ask, how 

long alas, how long, since he is emancipated, 

or, how long would a man capable of such vapor- 
ings require to understand this subject. Totally 
bad, and then he admits a ‘Spiritual nature,’ 
which is developed into good. Was it not good 
from its origin ? 

These superficial thinkers are deceiving others, 
no better acquainted with the subject. A man is 
a pessimist not because of his peculiar composi- 
tion, but of reasoning from false premises — habit- 
ually looking at things crosseyed ; as he may be 


288 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


an optimist who habitually looks at things fan- 
tastically. The pessimist reasons of the flesh, 
and expects to arrive at conclusions after the 
spirit. He does not understand that the flesh is 
not, and cannot be spirit, and in the latter’s untu- 
tored state is not under its control. The good is 
dominated by animal necessities. While the spirit 
subsists by the flesh, which may pervert it to its 
demands, the pessimist expects only the good. 
Cease to demand of the flesh spiritual things, then 
will you cease to shriek total depravity, and devel- 
ope the good that is within you from the begin- 
ning of man’s creation — not of monkeys ! 

Here in a remote comer, away from civilization, 
the good developed by the influence of Cob’s talk, 
who made rapid progress as a tliinker in the direc- 
tion sho’\^m him. Their talks were frequent and 
well attended — Cob’s modesty forbade him to call 
them lectures — ^but there was one that deserves 
especial mention. 

It was going towards fall, the fields were look- 
ing bare, and the farmers were making prepara- 
tions for winter. Cob had sowed his new field 
with winter wheat and might on that account 
have been at ease, yet he often thought of a cer- 
tain date in connection with his new venture, with 
a feeling akin to reading a death notice of an old 
friend — at sixty we have anxious feelings regard- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


289 


ing the day that must be met. His day was yet i 
far off, but uncertainty to meet it caused its fre- 
quent recurrence, and increased his fears of hav- 
ing undertaken too much. 

There was an unusually large attendance on 
the memoral evening, and the people were dressed 
up in their best. Cob talked hesitatingly, as if 
the atmosphere was laden with coming events, 
and Mr. Hays, at whose house they were assem- 
bled, was absent minded and nervous. Cob was 
dressed as usual in his every day clothes, exchang- 
ing his dirty work suit for cleaner, which was all 
he had, but they all knew that he would not 
accept a gift from his wife. 

“ The belief in a hell,’’ Cob said in answer to a 
question some one asked, “a literal place of 
torture after death by fire, as a prominent feature 
of religion, took more specified form with the 
introduction of Christianity. According to heathen 
mythology the gods rewarded those who propiti- ^ 
ated them by gifts, and punished those who neg- 
lected to do so, and it is easy to perceive how this 
idea continued and was used as a threat for evil 
doing, and to encourage the good. To make the 
impression more acute, and lasting, and fearful, 
the mysterious fire was invented to do the duty 
after death, to which Nemesis did not always 
attend, during the lifetime, as the Universalists 


290 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


discovered not many years ago. Other sects, 
especially the Catholics, were more fortunate in 
threatening with hell after death. 

“ The good were promised reward in heaven, 
the unfortunate, unhappy, all were consoled till 
after death — it is the foundation of religion ; for 
why be good, unhappy or unfortunate, if wicked- 
ness thrives well here, and has the same chances 
there ? The promised reward was as boundless, 
as the punishment was merciless. For prudential 
reasons it was deferred till after death, and none 
could then safely deny its truthfulness. 

“ The crude, irrational ideas of the Church, of 
an existence after death, fathered the resurrection 
of the body at the judgment day. And for cen- 
turies this atrocious doctrine hung over the igno- 
rant unchallenged by a ray of light, unquestioned 
by a reasonable doubt. To teach the ignorant, 
if possible, or raise doubts, was not in the interest 
of the promoters, might have let loose the tradi- 
tional head fireman of the nether regions, in so 
many human creatures. 

“ All the conceivable idea of a soul was com- 
prised in the resurrection of the body, which was 
called back to life, to take its place in heaven, or 
hell, according to its merits. The idea of an 
ethereal existence was inconceivable, and incom- 
patible with the resurrection, which is inseparable 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


291 


from that of the physical body. Magicians were 
believed to be possessed of the secret to make 
themselves invisible; but religion was not far 
enough advanced to take a rational view of a 
future etherial existence, of which even in the pres- 
ent day so little is knomi that no idea can safely 
be advanced without being derided as visionary. 

“ The literal fire theory of hell for the torture 
of the resurrected body, could only emanate from 
such a conception of a future life. More rational 
ideas of an etherial existence in a future state, 
would have enlightened humanity on the absurd- 
ity of spirit torture by the combustion of matter. 
Doubters at last arose, increased in numbers and 
boldness, and skepticism resulted to a degree, to 
preclude thoughtful, rational investigation — rejec- 
ting the good with the evil. Disbelief is taking 
revenge on credulity. The opponents of religion 
are blinded and their warfare is on all, because it 
cannot be grasped with hands. Wasting precious 
talent in refutation, accepting the irrational and 
rejecting the truth, justly deriding the traditional, 
which, with all the inaccuracies and inventions, is 
posing as solemn, truthful religion. It is the har- 
vest of their sowing. 

“ The indefensible torture theory in a certain 
place, was evolved from the untenable doctrine of 
a material existence after death, it has now been 


292 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


modified to a spirit torture, less fearful to evil 
doers, than roasting and thirsting, and no Lazarus 
to go for a drink ; for who has not endured men- 
tal suffering and survived ? At the same time the 
acknowledgement of error, the backing down of 
religion, has lost it its prestige, and every mental 
vagabond considers his knowledge as infallible as 
the Pope’s. The skeptic’s ire is not appeased by 
the enlightened change, he is as loud, and more 
numerous, from day to day, for the reason of a 
total absence of a logically explainable spirit 
existence and its origin. To know spirit know 
thyself. The human intellect as compared with 
the instinct of animals is usally cited as proof of 
a spirit existence, but farther than that to adduce 
logical facts, religion is helpless — molecular vibra- 
tion is the incomprehensible. 

“ The theory of a personal God, which obtains 
throughout this darkness, was only another out- 
growth of it. To occupy the judgement throne, 
he was endowed with human attributes ; all pow- 
erful, all love, or stern if he so willed ; but just, 
he could save what he created, or destroy at will. 
Under the gallows, priest and preacher, assure the 
assassin of salvation, and crying for mercy, he is 
received in the same embrace with his victim who 
may be expected to love his slayer ; or the wretch 
who had not time to cry for mercy, is sent to hell. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


293 


“All knowing, all good, omnipotent, yet He 
creates man with all liis temptations, priva- 
tions, desperation and passions, which drive to 
murder, and suicide — to hell. He knew all this 
and that there would he no preacher near to offer 
salvation. All the universe is law’, but this God 
of the imagination is without law. That is the 
personal God doctrine, and the Church offers a 
premium on criminality. 

“ And how they are laboring to smother every 
ray of light ! How they are fighting to suppress 
the few voices raised in favor of a respite beyond 
the grave, a chance to plead for mercy at the 
throne ! How relentlessly they sweep all the un- 
converted into outer darkness, and everlasting 
torture ! This is the religion of the imagination, of 
the past. The religion of the future, in search of 
which all the world has lit its lamps, must have 
substantial, logical foundation ; must be purged of 
mythological, and priestly ungodliness. It was 
brought to me to the hazel bush. It has filled 
me with confidence in my existence, and the cer- 
tainty of my future.’’ 

Here Mrs. Hays entered from another room 
bringing with her a delicious odor of hot coffee, 
sandwiches, and other appetizing viands ; the stir 
in the room brought the lecture to a close. Mr. 
Hays approached, and with some nervousness 


294 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


addressed him: “Mr. Cob — ” be looked anx- 
iously around in search of some one to help liim 
out, when a young Miss, noted for prize winning 
at school examinations, stepped forward holding 
a folded paper in her hand. “Mr. Cob,” she 
took up Mr. Hays’ speech, “the ladies wish to 
commemorate the happy occasion of this even- 
ing’s gathering by a collation, and I am delegated 
to present you with this, as a token of their esteem, 
in which you are held by all your friends and 
neighbors. They wish you to accept it, not as an 
adequate reward for the benefit they have received 
through you, but it is the best within their gift. 
Will you accept ? ” She pressed the paper in his 
reluctant hand and with a graceful bow stepped 
aside. 

It was a great surprise to Cob not yet fully 
comprehended, he could not find words of thanks 
for the present, but all he could say was: “You 
have taken an unfair advantage of me, I do not 
understand what all this means?” A glance at 
the title of the folded legal document completely 
unmanned him, and he dropped on his seat and 
could no longer restrain his emotions. But now 
that the ice was broken, Mr. Hays having over- 
come his nervousness came to the rescue with his 
explanation. The paper was a clear deed to his 
land, it was only a part of their indebtedness to 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


295 


him, and as he had said, ‘‘’T was n’t right to let 
a neighbor’s hay go milldewen’, when he has the 
rheumatis.” 

Cob said, “Too much — too much not all can 
yet hold up both ends.” 

“But it is easier when two hold up the ends,” 
said Crab, who had forgiven the affront, and was 
now one of his warmest friends. The allusion 
was well understood — Cob’s wife missed all these 
honors. 

Here the presentation was sidetracked by plates 
and coffee cups going the rounds, followed by 
sandwiches, hot rolls, cold meats, steaming coffee, 
pie — farmers’ appetites and a general good feel- 
ing. Every body was in high spirits engendered 
by a good deed. It held the company till a late 
hour. And there were yet more surprises in store 
for Cob, for when he rOde to his lot next morning 
not yet able to realize his feelings, he found a pile 
of lumber, where once his friendly fairy sat, and 
neighbors, too, with saw and ax, ready to help 
him build his little hermitage. 

“It is too much,” he mumbled, but the house 
went up regardless of his protests. 


29G 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


CHAPTEK XVL 

Many of their friends came to the station for 
the sad pleasure of a last farewell. The two 
ministers were there as by appointment; both 
perhaps glad and sorry, too, that Adelaid was 
going away ; for while her society was very enjoy- 
able, they feared the influence of her lectures on 
the uninformed, and the credulous. Lawyer Sharp 
was bubbling over with friendly suggestions to all, 
the remaining as well as the departing. And 
there were also her pupils, and their mothers, so 
thankful for the opportunity of Adelaides instruc- 
tion. Mrs. Terry and the hotel people who had 
turned out in force. The girls bad formed the 
warmest attachment for the ladies, who had been 
so free with their presents, and Bellman had never 
as remunerative patronage. Many voices make a 
babel — the ministers had a kind, last word, invi- 
tations were extended, protestations of remem- 
berances — a shrill whistle, and the train rushed 
around the curve, past the station, as if there was 
no thought of stopping, for it was a long train. 
A scramble for a last grasp of the hand, several 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


297 


ladies kissed, and Adelaid turned on the steps 
and said : “ You dear, good friends, I want to 
take you all in one embrace to my heart. I leave 
my affections, where I have found health and 
trust in humanity. I shall never forget how 
kindly you have treated us.” And Aunty said to 
minister Harding, next to my native town I should 
want to come among the good people of Blight to 
spend my last days. I have a warm comer for 
you in my affections. 

When the last heartfelt wish for safe journey 
died away, the last flutter of the white handker- 
chief in the crowd of ladies on the platform was 
answered through the open window by a bow and 
a wave of the hand, when the train was already 
in motion and Harter was nowhere in view, his 
conduct of the last few days again forced itself 
upon Adelaides mind, but the solution of her pain- 
ful thoughts was yet far in the future. 

They had enjoyed quite a resting spell since 
their last weary journey, and it was not travel 
worn made both feel downcast, nor were they in 
doubt in regard to their objective point. Hope 
and sad misgivings were struggling for victory, 
and Adelaid was like a mariner, his compass lost 
he trims his sail for fortune or destruction. 
There was no longer a hope in inactivity, since 
fortune would not blow her way, and the calm 


298 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


was torture. Let us start, if the worst has to be 
encountered, were Adelaides thoughts. Perhaps 
Aunty’s were less daring, being nearer the years 
when a traveler would rather be becalmed than 
rush impetuously ahead. 

“Tickets,” interruj)ted the conductor rudely, 
but annoyed or not, every body hustles for his 
ticket, and suddenly roused from her painful 
revery, in her confusion Adelaid rummaged in her 
handbag for the desired article. A letter which 
Eoni thrust in her hand in the confusion of hand- 
shaking thus came to view. It was in the fam- 
iliar handwriting of Harter addressed to herself, 
not Eoni’s to his mother, as she supposed. She 
was surprised, and hesitatingly opened the letter, 
holding it a moment, as if to divine its contents, 
which was much easier by reading it, and her eyes 
glanced rapidly over its lines. 

“ Dear Friend — Seek not to fathom the depth 
of another’s w^oes or their origin, but believe me 
that no act or word of yours has contributed to 
cause my absence from your genial presence. I 
trust the sympathetic chord that exists between 
us will continue me entitled to your friendship, 
though the reason for my seclusion may seem 
childish. In sidereal spheres explanations are 
unnecessary, in terestrial life they can least be 
given: Our weaknesses perpetually debar open- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


299 


heartedness. Biased judgment does not entitle 
us to expect the grief laden soul to cry out for 
help. I know there is no help, and no atonement 
in this life ; but bear with me and let me not van- 
ish from your memory. Of no other living woman 
would I ask this favor — your kind heart will 
grant it. Yours, very truly 

K. Harter. 

With her eyes closed, as if to shut out her sur- 
roundings to permit the internal vision more rea- 
dily to understand the meaning of these lines, her 
sad features, her quivering, contracted lips, her 
hand holding the letter lying limp by her side, 
Adelaid betrayed a sorrow that blanched the cheek 
of her companion, and caused her sidelong glance 
to melt away in tears for her darling who vainly 
strove to understand this cry for help ; or how 
to aid the sufferer : ‘ Though a reason may seem 
childish,’ she repeated in hopeless perplexity. 
There was nothing to merit her attention in the 
metaphysical allusion, men often make a mysteri- 
ous speech with no meaning to others ; but here 
was a simple sentence, a ‘ reason ’ for avoiding 
her, and this quick witted woman could not find 
an explanation. 

Both had fallen into a profound silence, and 
each was busy with her thoughts, not flying away 
ahead in pleasant anticipation of meeting friends 


300 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


at the home, towards which they were going as 
fast as steam could propel the train ; for the elder 
lady’s object of solicitude, for whose joy and 
friendsliip she existed, was by her side. They 
had but each other, and from Adelaid’s babyhood 
she had knowm no nearer relative. The latter’s 
wish at this moment was to go in the opposite 
direction to answer the cry for help, and offer con- 
solation to the self accused. A mole hill from a 
distance may look more a mountain when yet un- 
explored ; that reason stood in the way and grew 
to more formidable proportions with every turn of 
the W’heels. She breathed a sigh, and marveled : 
When did a man ever have a reason he could not 
reason away? There is no help for him, for 
there is no reason in grief. 

A glance at her companion’s worried features 
made her aware of their long silence, and arousing 
herself, as if to offer an excuse for something she 
had neglected, Adelaid said : “ A night’s rest at 
Kansas City will help you bear the journey better, 
and we shall be quite in time, if all goes well.” 

Probably Aunty understood the meaning of 
Adelaid’s remark, and hoping to divert her from 
the subject made an unusual effort, but like the 
mother bird hovering around the nest, where its 
young are in danger, she could not get far away 
from what was uppermost in her mind. She said, 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


301 


“ Do you think they have any worry, or are afraid, 
here all alone on these prairies, so far from 
any neighbors?’’ 

“ I dare say they have their burdens,” said 
Adelaid with an effort at being cheerful, “but 
such as ours they could not understand. What 
amuses me is to see them rush out, or to the door, 
and windows, when trains pass. They hold reviews 
of these daily parades, enjoying to see others 
travel, if they cannot indulge that luxury them- 
selves. Each train brings with it a new pleasure, 
a new expectation, it shows how necessary it is 
for man to have companionship, and I wish pas- 
sengers would get in the way of being sociable, 
greet them by a waive of the hand, or handker- 
chief, toss a paper to them, w’hich would bring 
them in touch with the city. It would be real 
enjoyment and life would be less lonely. An 
encouraging nod, or smile of a lady passenger 
would go far to lessen the burden of household 
drudgery of the farmer’s wife, and form subjects 
for conversation in their leisure hours, or Sunday 
visitings to neighbors. Books we lay away never 
to read again would be enjoyed by those who 
never hear of them.” 

The fast moving train sped on, telegraph poles 
followed each other in rapid succession, past prai- 
rie scenes and herds of cattle; prancing horses 


302 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


proudly sniffed the air, as if accepting the chal- 
lenge for a trial of speed, and thinly scattered 
farm houses growing into straggling villages, with 
here and there a man, or woman interestedly 
watching the fast moving train, glad of the inter- 
ruption of their monotonous lives in this isolation. 
“If we have not seen the great mountains we have 
lived on the grandest prairie in the world. It is 
like an ocean dotted with ships, and I expect every 
haystack would hoist sails, if I was not looking. 
The farms with their groves remind me of islands 
amidst which we are sailing.’’ 

As each turn of the wheels shortened their jour- 
ney it brought new scenery to view, and new sub- 
jects for conversation, and Aunty was never so 
talkative, so observant, and anxious to be enter- 
taining. Adelaid was amused, and moved to pity, 
she suspected it was the lullaby of the nurse to 
keep her great baby from crying. Did it lessen 
the distance from friends in the rear while the 
car wheels were so successful in front? But 
already the miserable little houses, straggling 
along the road, the squalidly dingy looking stores, 
“ Fine old whisky,” and brewery signs, the out- 
posts of the city, and dirty streets had arrived; 
the train is now only running at the lawful speed, 
for the first day we are at our journey’s end — ^in 
the city with its multitude of struggling humanity 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


803 


for bread and gain. Is it a wonder country people 
are bewildered when they arrive in the city ? 

The turmoil at the depot on the arrival of a 
train, the numerous vehicles and the vociferations 
of the drivers, streets and stores gorgeously illum- 
inated, the hurrying mob of pedestrians, as if the 
end of time was following close behind them, 
grated harshly on the sensibilities of the two wan- 
derers who had so long been strangers to these 
scenes, to the hum of large bodies of people ; but 
it is a part of civilization, and there was no return- 
ing to the prairies. The sensitive old lady appar- 
ently entrusted her nerves entirely to the keeping 
of the younger companion : Where authority fails 
us our nerves may become very tolerant ; or was 
she really a sensible woman who could put up 
with it all without a murmur ? Hotel beds, she 
said, were preferable to the narrow bunk of the 
sleeper, and not so much like chasing after bad 
dreams. She was soon at rest leaving the care 
for the morrow to her efficient manager. 

Adelaid found it less needful to rest, and an 
hour’s reading, writing a letter, and thinking, 
especially of the people of whom Harter was a 
part and came in for the largest share, was her 
way to relax her nerves. She had failed to inter- 
pret his conduct, the letter, and absence from the 
depot, in any way, and she could only arrive at 


304 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


the one conclusion of having frightened him. 
“ Keally,” she said with a laugh, “ then I shall less 
likely be forgotten. Love dies out, is killed by 
time and conditions, a something inexplicable has 
ever new interest. What gentleman would have 
refused to travel with us, going our w'ay, unless 
he is afraid ; not of his heart, he has lost that 
already. No — of hearing his history ! ” A tap 
on the door — what a pity, when it was so interst- 
ing, and how' much more to hear, but for this 
interruption — a despatch, a short consultation, 
— and here I stand alone in the dark ! 

It was still sleeping time for city people, when 
the two ladies were hustled to the train. Early 
rising was no inconvenience for Aunty, and she 
was doubly rested in the consciousness of having 
slept in a bed, and not having a care for the 
journey. Adelaid was in her usual good spirits, 
nothing escaped her observation. The streets 
presented the same hurrying of the evening before, 
for those who make the noise and bustle of cities 
were out in full force. Only the hackman made 
less noise for outgoing passengers. . 

The day was already well advanced, new scen- 
ery developed and in turn departed from view. 
There was but little change, and no improvement 
on the previous day. The country was more 
thickly settled, and the houses older and more 


o 


A MYSTERY EXPLAIilED. 305 

dilapidated, the villages had less smartness in their 
appearance, old Missouri log cabin architecture. 
Listlessly looking out of the window at the ever 
changing panorama before her, Adelaid was sur- 
prised by Harter’s familiar good morning. He 
had just come in from his morning cigar, and how 
long he had been at it, did he see them board the 
train and required the additional stimulus of a 
second, or to delay their meeting ? Such a thought 
quickly flashed through Adelaid’s mind, it damp- 
ened the spirits of the sentitive woman, but she 
made room for him, and he slowly accepted the 
seat, there being no other near, and no excuse 
for refusing, no way of escape from their com- 
pany ; a situation which she enjoyed, and she was 
determined to let him get over his embarrass- 
ment, or his ‘ reason,’ as best he could. A rail- 
road car was not the place for explanations. 
What else could she do? 

She was no less under the influence of his 
strangeness, yet differently, and he attributed her 
silence to his mysterious letter, he had excited 
suspicion, such a reading had not occurred to him 
before. What a foolish letter, and he became 
talkative as a consequence of his embarrassment, 
and to talk a suspicion away. She wearily encour- 
aged his efforts ^vith nervousness and anxiety, 
for what could she do at the next turn with 


306 


A MTSTERY EXPLAINED. 


a man who bad a terrible secret, and by all means 
must keep it ? 

She found a ready excuse for her apparent dis- 
inclination to talk. Aunty’s smelling bottle for 
once did good service, and the old lady was not a 
little amused at the result of this bit of acting. 
Her own uneventful life was barren of its teach- 
ings, and though not favoring such artfulness, 
under the circumstances — well, she could n’t tell 
what a man might provoke a woman to do. 

It excited Harter’s sympathy, and he excused 
her from conversational efforts, and if he talked 
too much bid him be silent. It would have 
amused Lawyer Sharp, could he have studied 
his solicitous face, at the same time condemn- 
ing every impulse of his sympathetic heart ; and 
no wonder, such memories of the dead past as it 
resurrected, it seemed all his prudish intentions 
must perish in their earliest inception. Her head 
reclining on her shawl, Adelaid lay with shaded 
eyes observing his moods and his movements, 
reeling up and letting out her slender thread, she 
*was a capable angler and knew all his moves by 
intuition. Any where, but within hearing of all 
the passengers, how easy to dispel his doubts. He 
could only surmise her social position by her 
appearance, he had no conception of her home 
life. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


307 


After a night^s sleep she dispensed with the 
offensive bottle, but Adelaid was no more inclined 
to be chatty. Her mind was overburdened, and 
her nervousness necessitated silence as a safe- 
guard, and with reserve a w^oman may expect a 
man to commit any folly. Opening her bag to 
write a despatch his letter was exposed, which had 
probably not been off liis mind for five minutes 
since meeting them the day before. It was the 
silent witness of their embarrassment, and seemed 
to have increased the feeling of estrangement, 
he beeing less confident of her friendship than in 
Blight. Was he a well enough acquaintance for 
the far West, but not so proper nearer home ? All 
this and more was spinning through the man’s 
lively imagination, and he must let her know 
that there was no meaning to it, and apologize 
for the foolish letter. 

“ Don’t speak of it here,” she said hurriedly, 
“but promise you will visit me. I have more 
than this letter to talk over with you,” she added 
abstractedly. “ Your book has interested me and 
I can do much towards getting it out. You know 
an author’s name is every thing, and as you are 
yet unknown — ” she did not finish, he had placed 
his index finger on her pulse and she was in 
despair. 

“You will probably never come to our town 


308 


A mysteey explained. 


again/' he said for a i)urpose, “so people there 
will not know that I haven't always sold groceries^. 
It is easier to sell groceries than to live by the 
practice of medicine." 

Adelaid was looking out of the window, her 
handkerchief went to her head, perhaps to her eyes 
— he had released her hand — then she softly said : 
“ You loved your profession, what a disappoint- 
ment to have to give it up, after so much hard 
work." 

“ Yes," he said, “ but empty pockets, gnawing 
stomach, cool off the most ardent love, and suc- 
cess where no education is required make’ one 
almost hate one's first choice which proves treach- 
erous." 

“ Dont say your first choice was treacherous." 
She was shocked, and corrected herself more 
quietly : “ Perhaps there was some cause for fail- 
ure. The locality, the people, you did not adver- 
tise. If you lived East — " He shook his head, 
but promised to accept her invitation, as he 
intended to visit the neighboring city. 

The sociability of the second day's journey had 
even been less cordial than the first, but after this 
attempt at an explanation a better feeling seemed 
restored, he regained his confidence in not being 
considered out of place in her company, and her 
sympathy and pressing invitation revived his 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


309 


spirits. When the ladies began to pick up their 
belongings, he expressed sincere regrets, and 
even accepted Aunty’s invitation. 

Adelaid replied to him in the purest German, 
as he said good bye holding her hand : “We are 
not parting not to meet again, for I have confi- 
dence in my impressions that this is not the last 
of seeing you. In a dream I had last night I stood 
at your side trying to convince you the grave into 
which you were looking was empty. I cannot 
guess its meaning, but we shall meet again. 
Don’t forget the address. Leben Sie wohl.” 

The warmth of feeling expressed in her eyes 
well warranted his friendly pressure of the hand, 
it would have unsettled any man ever so deter- 
minately stoic, and he was betrayed into geniality, 
even confidentially to whisper that he w'as going 
to see that grave. 

“ Let me go with you, please,” she said appeal- 
ingly, but the answer died away amid the noise 
of moving car wheels, and his effort to regain the 
platform. 

Here was another surprise for him, to hear 
Adelaid speak his native tongue, and that dream ! 
The key to a Teuton’s heart is the language of the 
Vaterland; but you must speak it perfectly, or he 
is apt to reply in your own, for it is less grating 
to his sensibilities to murder your English than 


310 


A IVfYSTERT EXPLAINED. 


to hear his German tortured. Far from requir- 
ing a furnace heat to melt away the bars to his 
heart, its portals stood wide open, and she walked 
in, the poor guardian retreating before. Here he 
had been in daily social intercourse with her for 
several months and never suspected her of Ger- 
man ; and why might she not have been a Teuton, 
in some previous existence, a branch of his family, 
reincarnated in America — be the devil himself, 
he wound up out of patience with the flight of 
his thoughts. Her features are thoroughly Amer- 
ican, and her knowledge of history — ! “ It’s 
queer, almost miraculous, she even knows that I 
am in search of a grave. If I talked in my sleep 
— but there is no one near to hear it ! She is a 
wonderful woman who will bring me no good. She 
seemed affectionate. Nonsense, it was only her 
usual warmth, her interest in a friend — whole 
souled and nothing more. How fortunate the 
man who has her love.” He tried to dispel her 
features from his mind by thinking of the other, 
but the two became mixed up, Adelaid’s red hair 
seemed to belong to both — ^lie had really forgotten 
the dead and only remembered her in the living. 
A feeling of loneliness came over him, which only 
the infatuation for his enterprise could dispel. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


311 


CHAPTEE XVII. 

At the city station, a few miles beyond where 
Adelaid left the train, Harter followed in the 
wake of other passengers to a hotel, considering 
himself fortunate that he was a stranger, and 
especial precautions for concealment of his desti- 
nation unnecessary. He was early on his feet 
in the morning, and found the late hours of 
city people a great inconvenience. Several fail- 
ures to find undertakers at their establishments 
determined him to visit the cemeteries which 
might not be closed against him. But where, 
which one first, was another obstacle in his way 
not to be removed without help. His impatience 
let him forget his cigar, but to nurse patience 
for a whole hour on a busy morning from its 
fumes was a negative annodyne for which he had 
no relish. Nor was he any better off when he set 
out again an hour later in quest of information. 
He found his difficulties increasing as the day 
advanced. Undertakers being subject to the laws 
governing other people now and then passively 
take the principal part of their trade, go out 


312 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


of business — he failed of attaining his object. The 
difficulty was in his desire for concealment of the 
name and circumstances, and he received queer 
answers, barely hiding the suspicion of having 
escaped from an asylum. It compelled him to 
flee the living, and seek information of the silent 
dead, at the cemeteries, where curiosity did not 
stand in his way. 

A long walk and a tedious search — he was 
determined to ask no compromising questions — 
brought him to the stoneless grave, where hope 
fled before disappointment. The two other graves 
marked by simple stones, “ cheap and mean,” as 
the man was whose name the two wives bore, 
revealed no loved one buried there ; and the old 
nurse surviving, would she leave that grave with- 
out a monument? Uncertainty to explain his 
discovery put him in the bluest spirits, and he 
did not know which way to turn for information. 

Adelaides dream occurred to him, “ Could it 
have — ? ” 

“ A relative buried here ? ” he was rudely inter- 
rupted by a voice from his rear. Keceiving no 
reply his questioner continued: “In the busi- 
ness ? “ The sinister tone of 'voice was exasperat- 
ing, the irrelevancy of the question, devoid of 
sympathy with the feelings of the man who visits 
the last resting place of a dear friend, grated so 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


313 


harshly on Harter’s sensibilities, he turned a con- 
temptuous look at the intruder. Nothing loath 
at his treatment the speaker audaciously pushed 
his card as the agent of a marble firm, in Harter’s 
face, praising his ware and the moderation of 
their prices. Impatiently thrusting the card aside, 
Harter was on the point of going away, when he 
checked himself, and reached for the card, for he 
had not thought of marble yards as a possible 
source of information. 

Encouraged by this friendly sign to do justice 
to the usefulness of the marbleman, the drummer 
seemed to accept it as one half of the sale of a 
monument ; he spoke with great volubility of his 
extensive travels over the state in quest of cemeter- 
ies, he knew all the new graves — that being his 
special line of the business, “ Saves time and puts 
the salesman in possession of the wants of a pos- 
ible customer.” He did n’t know who was bur- 
ied there — old grave — but an old lady, once a 
member of the family was still living, he could 
direct him where to find her without fail. Hoped 
he would impress it on her mind there was no 
stone on the grave and give her his card. Could 
n’t get near her to talk business — something 
wrong — may have forgotten there is no stone. 

Before Harter succeeded to get away from his 
tormentor with the assurance that he had no 


314 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


interest in the grave, or the old lady, the drummer 
had informed him that they had met before, a few 
evenings ago, on the train, after parting with two 
ladies. At last he stood alone with kindlier feel- 
ings towards the man whose heart is gladdened by 
the tears of others, pondering the two words, 
“ something wrong ! ” How much, or how little 
did they mean ? 

A glimmer of hope, if to ask your executioner 
for your victim is hope, was held out to him in 
a visit to the old lady. He had written her a let- 
ter giving the particulars of her death and reason 
for his flight ; had she received it, and believed 
him? Was there an excuse for him? In her 
eyes hardly. Instinctively he thought of Adelaid. 
A quick witted woman could advise him in his 
helplessness, she is more ready with expedients 
than a man, but it would expose his secret, and 
show his wife in a false light. “ Never that ! ’’ 

The meeting with the drummer was followed 
by a sleepless night, and many plans, and resolu- 
tions, all winding up with an interview with the old 
lady, but all were rejected in turn. No detectives, 
no interview. The drummer even came in for his 
suspicions, he knows the family, he knows who is 
buried there ; his fear, I might after all be in his 
line and get too much information was the reason 
for claiming ignorance. Harter a drummer, how 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


315 


the marble man would laugh ! But he was firmly 
resolved to have no interviews, except with grave 
stones — surface evidence, but it would not expose 
his secret. 

As day after day passed and he was getting 
no nearer to his object, his spirits sank to the low- 
est notch of discouragement. The old lady, it rang 
in his ears, was the only source that promised suc- 
cess, but how could he go into his grave, or his 
prison with his eyes wide open ? And how could 
the murderer of his wife face her who had been 
her nurse and mother, her constant companion 
through life, the only relic of the family, once 
happy and prosperous, all come to an untimely 
end? He had faithfully, humorously promised 
her the best of care for her darling and brought 
her home a corpse ! And now he came to ask 
her to lead him to her grave ! 

His strolls through the cemetery, glancing at 
names and epitaphs, had a salutary effect on his 
emotions ; he was less distressed at the thought 
of the stoneless grave, which yesterday and days 
before was hers to a certainty, might, as a laborer 
suggested, be an empty grave, the dead being 
removed to another place. The old lady would 
not leave her grave in this obscurity. There was 
“ something wrong.” His thoughts wandered to 
his western home and the void Adelaid had left 


316 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


there, and if Eoni should go away, though he was 
wishing he was with him to unravel his doubts, 
there was not a soul left in Blight he cared to see. 

His fruitless search was nothing to the numer- 
ous visitors of the dead hurrying past ; they all 
knew where to find their loved ones. He alone 
was in doubt where to continue his search. At 
Spring Grove, where the poorer classes are buried 
he did not look for success, but there “shall be no 
stone left unturned,” he said aloud. “ Except the 
monuments,” said his friend, the drummer, who 
had found him in this secluded spot, “ though it 
would be just the thing, if some were turned up- 
side down. Did you ever see such inartistic rocks 
as some are? And such a multitude of crosses, 
but then they are all Catholics which accounts for 
that.” Harter could not see his face, a dense 
evergreen being between them, but he recognized 
his dollar thirsty business voice, and was out of 
patience for wasting so much time exploring a 
cemetery with all these crosses staring at him. 
He had forgotten that the Pine Grove entrance 
was still farther on and to the left of the road, but 
the lateness of the hour compelled him to post- 
pone his wanderings till another day ; and this is 
how it happened that Adelaid, being out driving, 
picked him up before a downpouring rain added 
more discomforts to being already far from his 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


317 


hotel, but of this he was silent. Before reaching 
the nearest depot they had agreed on a visit and 
dinner for the next day. 

Adelaides residence was only a short distance 
from the station, where she left the train, but 
owing to her unexpected arrival the house would 
not be ready for several days — needing repairs 
and other changes. This compelled her to take 
rooms at the hotel. It was here, where, late in 
the afternoon, Harter was ushered into the little 
parlor and found her dressed to go out. He was 
late, past the regular dinner hour, but she was 
radiant with smiles, and dressed as he had never 
seen her before — elegantly and becomingly — quite 
a difference to her western attire, he thought. 
As she put her hand in his she looked searchingly 
in his face, and her happy feeling gave way to sad- 
ness. Leading him to a seat with a shake of 
the head she said : “ You have been in bad busi- 
ness, or sad business, which should I say ? What 
are you doing ? As if you had not a friend on 
earth, when you had but to come to me to find 
the best.” 

“You were going out,” he said evasively, “I 
will not detain you.” He could say no more, his 
voice trembled and he looked away. 

“ I was only going to the house to see Aunty. 
No need of it, I am not going now.” 


318 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


An awkward pause followed and Adelaid’s eyes 
being averted he used the opportunity to survey 
her more closely, when the same unbounded admi- 
ration possessed him he discovered in Blight. 
Eeturning to a consciousness of his presence she 
said : “ You will excuse me for asking so many 
questions, but I am distressed not to know how 
to help you, or advise you. You have failed? 
Not a hope ? ” 

“ Not so. I know where I can learn all I wish 
to know. I am in doubt, if, what brings profit to 
me, is not overbalanced by misery to others,” 
was his diplomatic reply. 

“ Few are so considerate of others. A wound 
probed at the right time may save life ; figura- 
tively speaking, remove tormenting doubts, and 
produce salutary results, as surgeons would say,” 
she added with a significant smile. “ Your inde- 
cision will never bring you happiness.” 

“ Happiness and I are strangers — do not wish 
to know each other — and yet I hesitate, lest I 
learn too soon I have no longer a last hope.” Just 
then it occurred to him that she alluded to his 
book enterprise, did not know of his wanderings, 
but it was best to let the misunderstanding pass, 
for an explanation would be more embarrassing. 

“ It is odd that you and I are situated so much 
alike. One has a hope, almost a certainty, but 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


319 


cannot reach for it lest it proves no longer a delu- 
sive hope. I have a certainty which may leave 
me even without a delusive hope. I know all, and 
you know where you can learn all. Chance must 
decide. I have so much I want to say to you, but 
this is not the place.” She arose and closed the 
door which stood ajar, “ I would first of all like to 
have an explanation of your letter which has dis- 
tressed me very much.” 

“ Then forget it lest you will be more distressed. 
It was a foolish letter, written on the spur of the 
moment, when I thought you must think ill of me, 
and reveals a morbid mind.” 

“ If I can heal that mind ? Kemove its doubts 
and fears ? ” 

The simple words sent a thrill of emotion 
through him, he turned away, shaking his head 
and said, “ It will not profit either of us.” 

“ Then promise at least, that you will stay a week 
with me, come to this house every day. If you 
return in your present mental depression you will 
never be at peace. Here, your feelings must 
undergo the change. In a week I shall vanish 
from your sight forever.” 

A tap on the door announcing dinner pre- 
vented further discussion. There was no bravado 
in her voice and he knew her character too well 
to doubt her meaning, that this was all the time 


320 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


she would devote entirely to him ; he could feel 
her hand tremble on his arm as they walked in to 
dinner, and before entering the dining room, he 
thought, she brushed away a tear. 

There was little conversation at the table which 
gave all the more time to think. Each was busy 
with the others needs, his sympathies were enlisted 
for her as never before. A belief that she had 
a secret gnawing at her emotional vitality, a deep 
and vexatious trouble, had long since crept in his 
thoughts ; and. Oh, the flaring colors in which the 
imagination can paint a mere suspicion ! He 
could easily grant her request. Only a week’s 
respite then to be shut out from all social light 
in his western home. He was sure that was her 
view of his situation. 

It was train time and Adelaid insisted on going 
to the depot with him, leaving word for her car- 
riage to meet her there, and they parted with 
anticipations of a week’s pleasant enjoyment of 
dining, and driving, and sight seeing, unconsci- 
ously playing with fire, against which he felt proof 
and feared nothing for her. 

And for a week they dined, and rode, and 
talked of every thing except his letter, and his 
manuscript. Every place of interest, and there 
were many for a Westerner, was visited, affording 
new subjects for conversation. They met new 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


321 


scenes, and surprises to Adelaid wbo remarked, 
“ The changes in cities are so rapid that a season’s 
absence makes one a stranger at his own home.” 
They had arrived in front of her ovm suburban 
residence which he especially admired, and com- 
menting on the opulence of its happy possessor 
she modestly omitted to name herself as the 
owner. Several new houses had changed the 
neighborhood beyond the recognition of any one 
only familiar with it in former years. 

Adelaid was often nervous and agitated, she 
had undertaken too much. Was he aware of the 
sacrifice she brought him ? Probably not, for it 
is difficult for a man to notice others, who has 
only himself to think about. He suffered from 
photophobia, but was afraid in the dark. Her 
genial light must not come too close to him. It 
was distressing, but she must carry out her plans 
to the end. She longed to be relieved of the 
strain on her nerves. 

They had arrived on Wolf hill, and alighted to 
walk to a better position to admire the scenery. 
“ Is not this a fine view ? “ said Adelaid with a 
sweep of her gloved hand in the direction of the 
valley below. 

“ Fine, very fine, and you can add beautiful, 
and several more adjectives, and when your sup- 
ply of English is exhausted you have to borrow 


322 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


from the German to do full justice to scenery 
like this.” 

“ It was my intention to leave it to you, mod- 
esty forbidding to express myself, and you have 
done it splendidly, although our poor English had 
to suffer. I have no grudge against German on 
that account, but rather pity ; for some day it will 
be extinct, English will absorb it. In German 
it is particularly on account of your cumbersome 
grammar, so difficult for foreigners to master In 
Australia, India, Africa, our own country, English 
is constantly increasing at the expense of other 
languages ; and there is no coercion — no Eusso- 
fication, or Germanisation — but spontaneously, 
naturally, the change takes place. The emigrated 
races learn to speak it and at the age of puberty 
their children know no other language, because 
English is the common language of the street, 
not French, or German, or Bohemian, or Italian. 
It is almost impossible to teach children the sense- 
less distinction of gender of inanimate things. 
And the sauce pan does not bear within itself a 
more feminine impression than the table a mascu- 
line, the bread neuter. It may be very obvious 
to a German professor why der Yv'ein should be 
masculine, die Wurst feminine, and das Bier 
neuter ; but he is too slow for the times, and such 
absurdities will easily lose an African colony to a 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAIKED. 


323 


few English settlers. They will introduce their 
language and conquer. 

“ The unwieldy inflections of noun and adjec- 
tive, and article, in the different cases might be 
simplified, two of the four being already the same 
in the first and last gender — des Mannes, des 
Kindes, dem Manne, dem Kinde. In a very short 
time you would not see anything very ludicrous 
in saying: Das Tisch, das Gabel, das Messer — 
instead of der, des, dem, den, in the masculine ; 
die, der, der, die, feminine ; and das, des, dem, 
das, neuter.” 

“ But the German is ahead of all living lan- 
guages, it stands next to Latin.” 

And where is Latin to day ? A dead language, 
its races still in existence, and Greek ? — Imagine 
all the Americas, Africa, Australia, India densely 
populated, speaking English ; a small speck in 
Europe is struggling with the genders of inanimate 
things, and inflections of articles, and adjectives, 
and nouns. French will follow the Latin. It will 
only be English. 

“ Criticisms on German books are as rare as on 
the Kussian. Comparatively very few authors 
are known to the English reader. Long, loose, 
cumbersome sentences, in which your authors 
delight, do not strike favorably into our periodic 
language and wit ; and there are few translations 


324 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


that have extensive reading. Plays require a com- 
plete readaptation, and few translators have the 
ability to adapt your humor and language, the 
antipode of our own, to meet with appreciation. 
Periodic sentences give English the lively pertness 
we miss in German.” 

The tinge of irony in her remarks was a puzzle 
to Harter, knowing it could not come from any 
serious difficulty she found in mastering German. 
They had returned to the carriage, and turning 
for a farewell view he expressed his admiration : 
“How beautifully yonder hills set out the fore- 
ground. Grand, magnificent, wonderful and many 
more adjectives may apply to a handsomely orna- 
mented woman, but not here. Simply beautiful 
expresses all the harmonious man can feel. Yes, 
it is fine,” he looked roguishly at her, “ a beauti- 
ful spot, where it would be easy to dream of joy 
and gladness, or to give way to the saddest reflec- 
tions.” 

“I did not think you were overburdened with 
the imaginative.” 

Scrutinizing her features a moment with nega- 
tive results he said slowly : “ There is a difference 
between dreams and the imaginative. While you 
are of a lively, imaginative, poetic nature, hoping 
for hope’s sake, I am the dreamer who hopes not 
for what he cannot see. His hopes are of the 


A MYSTEEY EXPLAINED. 


325 


experience, where disappointments are the leading 
feature. You dream of pleasure and sunshine, * 
and enjoy thoughts of people and their surround- 
ing as you like to see them. I imagine them in 
want and misery, my feelings reproduce past 
experience. You see that mountain in its beautiful 
azure hue, as it melts in the surrounding land- 
scape as only nature can combine the realistic with 
the ideal to make it divine. I perceive all that, 
but dwell especially on the life they live beyond 
those azure hills. Are they struggling for exist- 
ence, are they in misery, what are they doing and 
thinking? The childhood’s scenes are unfolded 
before me, thoughts of parents and others who 
have passed away, crowd around me in regretful 
visions. 

“ My constant invisible companion is a lately 
found cousin, who reminds me of the many 
changes that must have taken place beyond that 
picture, far across the water, since our childhood’s 
plays. Her intelligent letters are a source of enjoy- 
ment and perhaps the impulse of our lively con- 
versations. She writes of the Kaisertage in Schlitz 
and has brought the country of which I could only 
think as deserted, vividly before me. But this is 
not to be our German day exclusively, although 
so well begun by you.” 

“ Ah ! You did nothing to provoke it ? ” 


326 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


“ There is much truth in what you say, I expect 
English is the stream into which all other tongues 
will flow to land in volapuk. But before that 
day arrives there must be some cleaning done in 
English, especially orthography and pronouncing 
after no fixed rules, must be improved. It is a 
marvel why combinations like the o u g h with 
a number of silent letters having a variety of pro- 
nunciations, are still in use : for trough has not 
the sound of enough, nor through, like thought, 
nor though, nor tough. Why Webster did not 
make a clean sweep of this abomination of the 
printer, when he substituted plow for plough as 
the Britons still write it, is hard to tell. It is the 
printer’s vexation when it comes on the end of a 
line which lacks just a hair space of having room 
enough, and words of that combination cannot be 
divided, hut to transfer it to the next line leaves 
the previous so widely spaced that it cannot pass 
inspection on bookwork. There is much other 
emendation necessary and especially in America 
this work will gradually develope, the foreign ele- 
ment, German and Scandinavian, to which the 
origin of English to a large extent is due, will 
influence its development. The English will con- 
tinue in writing plow with gh and neighbor with an 
extra u, but when they perceive the value of time 
and energy wasted they will have to fall in. 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


327 


“ I am much more affected by the case you men- 
tioned yesterday than by peculiarities of race dia- 
lects, for the real language will come to us in 
time. I refer to the man once at the zenith of 
political power and influence, the statesman, 
dying in the poorhouse. The agonizing consci- 
ousness of leaving a family in want, not a dollar 
where once tens of thousands were at his com- 
mand, cannot be realized by those who donate 
their millions to the advancement of fads, arts, 
sciences, institutions of learning, yet compara- 
tively nothing is given for the comfort of the edu- 
cated, genteel poor. A sense of vanity may be 
the incentive for donations for educational pur- 
poses ; or do people know so little how to give ? 
Yet one smile in a careworn face would reward 
the donor, when University scrolls are bleached, 
your name forgotten.” 

“ I join you there,” warmly said Adelaid, “ and 
believe the young, strong, willing arm with half an 
education is better able to make his way through 
life, than the educated man who at fifty finds he 
has missed his aim, and needs the help of others. 
Help might again set the unfortunate on his feet. 
Yet how little there is done for old people who in 
a pinch are without resort. Vagrancy and the 
poorhouse have depressing effects. With assist- 
ance, counsel, and labor bums would pass away.” 


328 


A MYSTEEY EXPLAINED. 


“ There is no call in the labor market for the 
man of fifty, or sixty ; and even lower in the scale 
of years he is crowded out of place by the young 
man — he has no right to exist as a laborer, college 
bred, or of less educational advantages.” 

“It was the fate of an honest politician, a 
degenerate, if we accept the present day politician 
as normal,” said Harter. “ Making the distinc- 
tion that degenerate is the expression of promi- 
nence, which is by no means a delusion, nor 
eccentricity, running in particular channels as 
specialties to the detriment of other faculties to the 
point of irresponsible attainment. No man is 
degenerate, because he has attained proficiency 
in particular directions, or general prominence. 
Nordau would be more deserving than any other 
to be classed a degenerate for striving to the emi- 
nence of his degeneracy, as in point of vanity he 
is there already. 

“ Accepting the attainments of the sane and 
sober as our standard, the degenerate is not he 
who excels, any more than he who falls below. 
It is not the fault of the man of prominent attain- 
ment that we cannot keep pace with him ; nor is 
he on that account to stop, not go one step in ad- 
vance of our dull faculties, or be derided because 
we cannot understand him. He may be above, 
we below the standard. Nor can he consult us 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


329 


on questions beyond our understanding, or be 
guided by mediocrity. 

“ Lawyers and doctors have written volumes on 
insanity, and the more they write the less clearly, 
it seems, the subject is defined, and the less the 
student is informed ; yet in a few unmystifying 
words how easily it is described. In comparison 
with the deranged mind the eccentric, or promi- 
nent in specialties is no less normal than the well 
poised healthy brain, since a pathological process, 
physical disease, is the underlying basis of lunacy 
in all its subdivisions — mild, acute, and chronic. 
In the public opinion, from a delusion to a 
halucination, the first stage of lunacy, is only 
a step, but in reality the former is only mistaken 
ideas, which may be righted by reasoning, as a 
horse’s shying is often caused by deficiency of 
sight, remedied by giving him time to look at the 
object of his fear. A halucination is the result 
of a pathological condition of the brain. The 
physically defective brain matter stands to its 
stimulus and production of brain ether vibration, 
as the diseased milk gland stands to its nerve 
influence and the secretion of milk. Irregularly 
responsive to molecular vibration the pathological 
brain emanation results in the deficient, irregular 
conscious vibration of an object, which cannot at 
all, or with difficulty only be reproduced, or it is 


380 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


apt to be distorted — memory is no longer at com- 
mand of the necessity — the will. 

“ This is the simple pathological, and psycho- 
logical definition of lunacy.’’ 

“ Very simple, indeed, hut how is its diagnosis ? ” 
said Adelaid with an incredulous smile. 

“ It is much simplified from this standpoint, 
and would oftener he correct, but for the ever 
present opposing interests, and selfish motives 
of the medical examiner. His reputation is at 
stake, if any act of the patient should disprove its 
correctness. We have no pathological condition 
in the delusionist however visionary his dreams 
may he ; the functional disturbances, raised tem- 
perature and pulse, accompanying the halucina- 
tion make the diagnosis comparatively easy and 
certain. But it is especially interesting to under- 
stand the functional process of the diseased mind. 

“ Greatness is not eccentricity, often the expo- 
nent of undue self esteem, which only needs 
reverses to bring it to its proper level. Eccen- 
tricity is like the tree that blossoms, butdacks the 
vitality to mature its fruit. The products of great- 
ness stand unassailable.” 

Train time was approaching and Adelaid made 
it a point to be on time, the sharp trot of the 
horses made continuous conversation impossible, 
but to morrow they would go to purgatory. 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


331 


CHAPTEE XVIII. 

The visit to purgatory, a wild, rocky place, had 
to be abandoned being too far for an afternoon 
drive. They were slowly driving through the for- 
rest as Adelaid said, “ What I miss in the West, are 
these grand old trees wliich stand here like senti- 
nels guarding the secrets of past ages, their origin, 
the origin of the world. They remind me of 
guests at a banquet struck dumb at some awful 
catastrophy ; enchanted giants awaiting the call 
to their heavenly reckonings. Or banded together 
to correct the errors of philosophers, and dissemi- 
nate the truth to an expectant world. Their stern 
commands, to do their bidding, oppress me, and 
hang like a pal over my existence. Yes, they 
are waiting for the signal to release them from 
bondage m which they are held as hostages for 
our deliverance. 

“ I never pass that gnarled tree on our right 
without thinking of its counterpart in human form, 
to whom I once stood in fateful antagonism. Its 
angles, its crookedness, its meanness, in obstruct- 
ing the growth of other trees that would be 


332 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


straight and wholesome, are the chief characteris- 
tics of human perversion and villainy in its baleful 
influence over those who come in its way. The 
grand old oak there seems like one of the philos- 
ophers of the past. Drawing his first inspiration 
from the teachings of the Bible he soars aloft, in 
his pride saying, what have I to do with you ? He 
has outgrown her counsel.” 

“ Your comparison is aptly taken,” replied 
Harter, “ and you see also that drawing its sus- 
tenance from mother earth it continues to rest on 
it. Men who likewise have soared away from 
their lowly inspiration, still have only that and 
nothing else.” 

“ GroTO above all the rest, there, in its dying 
branches to acknowledge its weakness and short- 
comings. So have they all soared and aspired, 
and the little trees cry up to them : ‘ What have 
you discovered that we don’t know? Why not 
grow higher?’ And in very shame they must 
bow their heads, and say, ‘ Nothing that satisfies.’ 
Men’s theories are vagaries, speculation; litera- 
ture, but ideas as thin as mist, resting on nothing. 
Leading to nothing, like the road which we passed 
in the woods — you follow it and soon you have 
lost it.” 

“ How is it in regard to your own theories, on 
what are they based? Not on logic, nor other 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


333 


evidence. The most imaginary pretensions, they 
demand unquestioning belief. Investigation? 
There is no point to investigate, or that can be 
advanced as a reason.” 

“ You must not accept my talks to those people 
as final, or that my reasoning is like the philoso- 
pher’s, from the crude material to the spiritual. 
Man is neither one nor the other. The spiritual 
is incomprehensible. What the Church calls spir- 
itual is simply the invisible, imaginary, because 
there are no proofs of its existence, which is still 
the material, or better, the spiritual material, 
although not grasped with hands: for what is 
the sunbeam, or the ether that carries it, what is 
electricity? Is not the former visible, and the 
latter material, when it thunders, or a shock 
passes through, or near the body ? So, although 
only thinkable by its work, is neuro ether. Even 
spirits become thus material, when we receive an 
impression, or are conscious of a vision. 

“ And this opens so vast a world that is think- 
able, and endless in its changes, it leaves little 
room for the promised spirituality of man’s sup- 
posed destination— heaven, the creation of the 
imagination. 

“ I could preach my theory to Mussulmans and 
they would readily understand my logic. They 
could never understand the traditional teachings 


334 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


used by men as stepping stones to be repudiated 
later. Instead of logical proofs the shortcomings 
and contradictions, requiring the blindest belief, 
are revealed, and origin and promises are mythical. 
It is the inheritance of nature that we look for 
evidence — a craving which my deductions alone 
can explain. The seventh day rest, keeping the 
Sabbath holy belongs to those stupid inventions ; 
for can a man let his mind, the image of God, 
take a day for only spiritual thought, when he has 
no conception of the spiritual, and is it rest to be 
ever laboring in the treadmill of mental activity ? 
Better evidence that the creator had no thought 
of a day of rest could not be adduced. The belief 
in the promise is of cultivation, the offspring of 
desire. It has no other existence. 

“ This is a new materialism of which the world 
has no understanding, and without which the 
spiritual is not thinkable ; the promised salvation 
of the Church cannot be comprehended by mor- 
tals, and may not exist. The philosophers were in 
search of this promised spirituality, but the limi- 
tations of materialism obscured their vision, and 
confused their understanding. They reached be- 
yond their reach, and in the effort kicked the 
chair over, which left them suspended by their 
illusions. If they have regrets for this mishap 
they continue to dangle by the same old rope 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


335 


which justified their attempt to solve the mystery ; 
their new illusions are no better than the old. 

“There are none who are satisfied with the 
promises of the Church, as their anxieties indicate, 
though many pretend to have faith in its symbol- 
ism. It is the blindest belief and fear of conse- 
quences. The religion of the Church, against 
which Kant raised his voice, requiring no cultiva- 
tion, but only a blind belief in a dogmatic heaven, 
and an impossible God of contradictions, cannot 
satisfy the thinking ; yet his argument for a trans- 
cendent religion is as vague and unsatisfying — it 
cannot carry conviction. The materialist who was 
even blinder than the philosopher had as good an 
argument. He did not go beyond the death of 
the body, and laughed the promises of the Bible to 
scorn. He was convinced that mind was the 
product of the body, which left nothing for a 
transcendent heaven. Psychology offered no basis 
on which to build a theory to let in new light. 

“■ The universe was filled with gases and nebulae 
which revolved, slowly at first, they condensed by 
attraction with increased motion, and formed 
planets and satelites. There was creation ready 
made, for all the rest came spontaneously. The 
great Kant knew nothing about micrococci culture 
farms which would only have clinched his theory. 
So near the source of creation, yet the Creator 


336 


A MYSTEEY EXPLAINED. 


remained invisible ! Even spirit existence was 
unproved. The inherent motive force in matter, 
which contiguity of elements caused, had to shoul- 
der all the responsibility. A spontaneous evolu- 
tion was all he saw. Matter attracting and repel- 
ling was a great step in advance, it was thought 
to be final towards the solution of the problem of 
creation. It goes well with the idea that space is 
a vacuum ; matter once in motion would continue 
forever without a force. Why should not animal 
creation, as well as the vegetable, be due to the 
same cause ? If these are not strictly the ideas 
of the philosophers they should have been, as in 
line with the materialism of their philosophy. 

“ It was a natural sequence from the matter to 
the motive force ; and yet the complete order in 
the revolutions of planets was probably the only 
reason why philosophers did not consider their 
work complete. The patchwork must ever con- 
tinue. After all, the spontaneous cause could not 
be the masterhand that set this work in motion, 
and continuing its revolutions, and order, without 
a hitch, a collision, or alteration in time and dis- 
tance. Well may they wonder what force in 
nature,, in matter, in the sun — only matter — was 
endowed 'svith intelligent design to plan the uni- 
verse. For a time Newton’s great discovery set 
all doubts at rest, and the work] has run more 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


337 


smoothly ever since, although it left the greater 
question of man’s whence and whither in 
the same uncertainty. 

Mind and matter had not yet become a hack- 
neyed phrase to cover ignorance ; it apparently 
solved these mysteries, but failed in its own defi- 
nition, its relation to matter, its relation to spirit. 
The believers in the futurity of man’s mental part 
again had only the promise, obtainable through 
the resurrection of Jesus. To the philosopher 
the son of man was only an after thought of the 
Church, and tliis broke the back of the truth of 
its significance, as it was further proof of the spon- 
taneous creation of the universe. In fact it 
strengthened the doubts as to a purpose of the 
creator, which, had it originally existed, redemp- 
tion would not have been necessary. 

“ The hand of the Church was too visible, and 
no explanation of pre-redemption, added to the 
confusion, and ignorance on the subject. But 
ignorance was a necessary condition — ‘lest ye 
believe in this dogma, ye shall not be saved.’ A 
moral religion conditions education to appreciate 
that the reward must lie in the satisfaction of the 
deed. The contrary is the cause of misery. Ig- 
norance has no incentive to be good when evil is 
pleasure. A regeneration was as ridiculous as 
total annihilation, there being no proof of the exist- 


838 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


ence of such a creator. Salvation was, of course, 
only for man, not retroactive. 

“ If doubts in the dogma existed the philoso- 
phers’ inability to comprehend the nature of mind, 
the supposed analogue of the spirit, left them in 
no better position. The character of the mind 
was unfathomable, and its operations incom- 
prehensible. The process of its functions was as 
little known as spirit itself. Says one of the 
great lights : ‘ This matter is something outside 
of me of that I am conscious ; and that there is 
something inside of me, which is not matter, of 
that I am also conscious — it is the soul.’ This was 
all they knew, and could explain of its counterpart 
in the spirit. And the mind being spirit had its 
counterpart in the creator. That man is the 
image of God is a material deduction from son to 
father, for if man has an originator it was natural 
to model him after the incomprehensible mind. 

“ Eeligion is the belief in a final cause of all 
things Kant divided it in dogmatic and moral 
or transcendental religion. He discarded the 
former, and failed in the promise of the imagin- 
ary heaven of the Church. Without the promise 
of the final reward to compensate for the inequal- 
ities of the present life the uneducated has noth- 
ing to which to look forward to find consolation. 
Simply to live for life’s sake is no compensation, 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


339 


and no religion. He cannot find the reward in 
the satisfaction of the deed. That there is dan- 
ger in prayer, trusting to some extra supplication 
to make up for previous laxity, may be offset by 
no prayer — looking at self — tending in the same 
direction. Though the dogmatic religion cannot 
influence God, there are those who would go to 
places more likely to cause laxity of morals than 
going to church. The perversion of religion to 
nefareous purposes by invoking the blessings of 
heaven to further the doings of political bodies 
with the most questionable ends in view, as well 
as the means used to gain their object, is only 
in line with Kant’s ideas of prayer, and to be 
condemned. It is the outgrowth of the church 
and the preacher who has more prayer in him 
than religion.” 

“And what has Emerson done?” sneeringly 
asked Harter. 

“ Emerson and Concord have nothing to add to 
the literature of the continent, and it is surprising 
to find the essays of the former so barren. He is 
apprehensive of something indefinable, but it is 
neither mind nor soul ; a transcendency unsup- 
ported by logical proofs. One is tempted, looking 
over his shoulder as he writes, to ask, of what he is 
thinking. The I is mind. Its spiritual I the defi- 
nition of the I’s transcendent I — the soul. Mind 


340 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


is indefinable — ^love, friendship, truth, the spirit — 
all of the same unintelligible quantity. You read 
his essays with fascination, even if you do not 
understand them. Mind is as tantalizing as a 
ball suspended for the amusement of a kitten. 
Brookfarm is in the same boat with him. 

“ When people have no ideas of their own they 
are prone to plagiarize the sayings of others. 
This is the condition of the advanced thinkers 
who have been fortunate to find the obsolete say- 
ings of ‘ gentle Buddha ’ an inexhaustible store- 
house of heathen wisdom from dreamland. Nir- 
vana is a beautiful word inspirationally spoken 
on proper occasion. It is a rest giving word, and 
also means annihilation ! Those who do not relish 
this way of getting rest, say it means ‘ cutting 
loose from all earthly returning.’ ” 

Harter took advantage of a pause in Adelaid’s 
explanation to say : “ The laxity of reasoning in 
the past, while its aims were high, brings us no 
nearer to that goal, the objective cause of all this 
creation. The first step towards rational ideas 
on the Creator and his work was not vdthin their 
comprehension. Inability to solve this lesson 
leaves the creation in the realms of a spontaneous 
possibility. Nor can we on the other hand ad- 
vance aught that gives assurance that the great 
spirit presided over the act of the creation for 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


341 


any reason than accidental presence with matter. 
Intelligent volition is not apparent, and the sub- 
ject may only be viewed as spirit coming to per- 
fection through man, and advancing to unity of 
purpose it becomes the law giver of heaven.” 

“ Hold on, Mr. Harter, I think now it is my 
time to smile.” 

“ The moon, or other planets, where physical 
life may have become exticnt, is the continuous 
abiding place of those once inhabitants in a 
material form. I have an impression of spirits’ 
awe inspired uplifting thought ; unity of purpose 
is its perfection — its exalted aspiration — God. 

“ The primeval creation of a single planet, the 
commencement of the universe, was very rudi- 
mentary. Animal life springing from cell growth, 
one would think man, though it was woman was 
created first, had a hard life to exist. But really 
this is not true. Originating from germ growth, 
he was surrounded by his nourishment, his men- 
struum, the atmosphere being saturated with it 
he may have fed by absorption, till his arrival 
at maturity. His physical condition also was such 
that he was not the helpless animal of today, he 
could help himself at an early hour of existence, 
feed on berries, fruits, and vegetables — the first 
voluntary motions babies perform is to cram the 
fists into the mouth. The proximate constitu- 


342 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


ents in vegetables are starch, gum, and sugar, we 
have also protein, albumen, gluten, and casein, 
and on account of his feeding we need see no diffi- 
culties in the way. The primitive man animal 
was principally a vegetarian, and this fact ought 
to settle the question of his being a tree climber. 
He had a large stomach, short legs and arms, and 
tree climbing was out of the question. 

“ That many of this creation perished in their 
first hour of existence, was no loss either way, 
since improvement in the spirit was rapid, and 
celestial influence on the brother in the flesh must 
tend towards his development, as the spirit per- 
fection shaped the universe.” 

“ You have not said anything very remarkable, 
or even new, and I fail to hear, if this spontane- 
ous creation also produced the spirit ether ? ” 

“ Chaos evolved Spirit.” 

“ You have only accidental creation, intelligent 
design plays no part. Even the man spirit is 
above the great spirit, for the unity of object 
of the spirits is the ruler of the universe. There 
is another version which I have been anxious to 
hear.” 

Harter was surprised to find liis companion in 
opposition to his views. His invention of the 
creation, he said, was certainly more intelligent 
than any in existence. The creation of the uni- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 343 

verse, as he explained its starting point, was not 
only convincing to himself, but of every day 
occurrence in the creation of new planets and 
their inhabitancy.” 

“ I grant that it is ingenious, but does not go 
quite far enough. It does not silence cavil and 
doubts.” 

He admitted he had not exhausted the subject 
of the creation of man, or his early nourishment. 
Another might make it a special study, develope 
the idea that he was not a four footed animal, 
except as helpless infancy compelled him to use 
his hands for the support of the body. There 
was a great deal of thinking to be done that he 
had not found time to do. 

As to the creation of the universe he did not 
believe in the spontaneous motion of matter, but 
that the motive force is not inherent in matter. 
He had developed the materialistic idea to its lim- 
its, and it failed to satisfy. His ideas coincided 
with her own, and time would enable him to 
formulate them into words. 

“As regards a special purpose, you would 
attribute it to accident,” said Adelaid thoughtfully. 
“ I am sure you cannot so dispose of the question. 
The animal creation of this globe, as if created 
for the special purpose to refute the object of 
holding accident responsible, demands a different 


344 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


interpretation. What gives form to all the creat- 
ures ? Did the creator experiment and gradually 
reach the highest and best? There are many 
species for which it seems hard to see an object. 
That each was created for a special purpose is no 
explanation — others would have filled their places. 
And can we hold an accidental creation responsi- 
ble for the remarkable order of gradation through- 
out? And this seems the strongest proof of a 
special purpose to reach the highest. That one 
species is changeable into another — evolution — 
lacks every proof to substantiate a fact. Many 
species becoming extinct is evidence to disprove 
this theory ; otherwise their nearest kin would fill 
their vacated place. It cannot be said that thus 
the world is dying out. 

“ Man was not created as the potter moulds the 
clay ; but the brain ether bears in itself the form 
of the animal. If the human brain ether was 
implanted in the plasma of an elephant it would 
determine an animal of two legs and arms, and 
the body erect ; and, vice versa in the case of the 
latter the vibratory ether could only produce such 
a form as lay in the possibility of its responsive 
vibrations at the moment of creation (at the 
moment of awakening responsive impulse in the 
matter. ) It might sound poetic to say — at the 
instant of the life giving vibration all nature 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


345 


breathed — my conclusions are that no such awak- 
ening moment occurred; but that, as matter 
attained the condition of responsive vibration, 
species after species was created at longer or 
shorter intervals. The velocity of vibration — free- 
dom from interference — determined the species — 
the more or less perfect brain ether function bear- 
ing in itself the physical form. The condition or 
moment of highest influence favoring the perfec- 
tion of man — the highest awakening impulse to 
which matter could respond. 

“ Take two individuals, one coarse and brutal, 
the other gentle and refined — as the mind, so the 
animal. Education may have added to the poetic 
nature of the latter, wiio responds to impulses 
that could never impress the former, with the 
same educational advantages. He can only cog- 
nize a hurricane of waves, his esthetic brother 
responds to a gentler impulse ; or you may say 
the first is not of the material of a lamb, and the 
other is not possessed of the stuff to make a lion. 
If you object to this difference of wave and vibra- 
tion I would have it understood as volume of lower 
velocity ; and the greater velocity, to which the 
animal of lower or less perfect brain function 
cannot respond. The life awakening impulse 
determines the faculty, the brain ether’s capacity 
to respond, into which the form, and even sex, of 


346 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


the species is implanted. The higher nervous 
organization of the female sex is due to this cause 
of a greater awakening sensibility. 

“ It may be our best explanation that the differ- 
ent velocities have influenced the species, if we 
assume that the more incomplete brain function 
resulted from a lower velocity, and the highest in 
man, from the greatest velocity acting on matter, 
we have the solution to the gradation in the 
animal creation; and also that interference by 
clouds, and mists, and nebulae, is the presumable 
cause of difference of velocity of vibration, hav- 
ing in fact determinative influence on the order 
of the species’ birth. 

“ The elephant could never change into an ox, 
nor the monkey into a man, liis brain function 
not responding to any velocity than that which 
created the species and continues to be its domi- 
nating characteristic. This is the moulding pro- 
cess of creation, the solution of which lies within 
the sphere of the operation of man’s mental func- 
tion, if you can make it your guide. 

“ It is in a few words the positive logical 
accounting for the diversity of animal forms and 
the relation of the species to each other ; which is 
not of body, but of brain ether capacity, or quality. 
And the shaping of the universe obeys the same 
universal law. As every form of animal life 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


847 


represents the spirit possibility within, this univer- 
sal creation could only be the manifestation of the 
spirit universal. No deviations could have taken 
place, neither for improvement, nor imperfec- 
tion. As man is perfect by the spirit within him, 
even so is the universe the prototype of its creator 
therein.” 

Adelaid spoke with much animation, and was 
not aware that her listener not only drank in her 
words, but also herself. At her concluding words 
he replied with much feeling : “ You have made 

better use of English than I have, and expressed 
more than I could in a whole chapter of German, 
and your interpretation shall be the closing chap- 
ter in my book — ^there is nothing more to be 
added. It has dangled before me, and dazzled 
my vision, but like a picture in a dream, it van- 
ished when I reached out to grasp it to put it into 
words.” 


348 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


CHAPTEE XIX. 

“ If an object vibration of the brain ether is 
consciousness, and the same vibration without the 
object is memory, then subjects or objects that 
do not vibrate the brain ether to consciousness 
can have no existence to the mind, or they are 
imaginary. The consciousness without the object 
vibration cannot take place unless from a previ- 
ous object impression. A consciousness different 
from an object or subject impression is the crea- 
tion of the imagination. Such a creation is an 
* inner consciousness ’ of a higher spiritual state, 
which the practices of the fads aim to attain. 

“ Thought is the act of comparing memorized 
with object or subject impressions, and when did 
ever Spirit leave its impress vibration on the con- 
sciousness of the brain ether ? In the practices 
of the faithful an exalted imagination is mistaken 
for consciousness of the spiritual. Desire is set 
up for ( inner ) consciousness, the equivalent of 
harrowing fears, contrition. Commissions, and 
omissions rake up the conscience — which is fear 
of consequences, a desire to stand well with 


A MYSTEEY EXPLAINED. 


349 


heaven — placing credits against debits ; and feel- 
ing duly agrieved for your shortcomings — a wast- 
ing of opportunities, as guaged by the promptings 
of conscience — by these daily practices you imag- 
ine you can make amends for ethical infractions, 
and believe you are advancing in the spirit. 

“ The imaginary has no existence in physical 
evidence, or logical proof, and is born of desire, 
but there is nothing beyond the G-o-d, not a mist, 
nor a haze which the imagination can grasp 
or realize. Ignorance of the process of the con- 
scious vibration casts the dense, dark shadow on 
the spirituality, leaving no object to vibrate the 
brain ether. Not a vibration can reach you but 
G-o-d, not an impression can attract you ; because 
you can only see the object vibration of G-o-d, as 
it has met your eye in print, and spirit has not 
vibrated your brain ether to consciousness. The 
mind cannot exercise functions where it has no 
impressions. The incomprehensibility of mind 
is the cause of the ignorance that only the material 
can evolve thought ; yet you imagine you contem- 
plate Spirit. Nor can you take a new route with- 
out landing at the same point. Be you Christian, 
Mahomedan, or Buddhist — Theosophist, or Meth- 
odist, you fetch up at G-o-d, and the imaginary 
background to w^hich you pray — Take me, father, 
inscrutable, creator of the universe, of mind inde- 


350 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


finable, to whom my soul would flee. Cleanse 
me from sin to dwell in thee — and your sin will 
be the only scrutable, reproducible vibration for 
memory to keep. 

“ Man cannot produce a vision which is an im- 
pulse on the brain ether without the medium of 
special sense — a conscious subject vibration which 
spirit must think to set it in motion. 

“I can prevent consciousness of an object 
vibration by closing my eyes, but cannot prevent 
the same to reach me in dreams, or visions. This 
much is clear that the mind has no control over 
this medium, nor can it perceive other than mate- 
rial object vibrations — no other ever appearing in 
visions : The firey bush of Moses, Jacob’s ladder, 
and others of daily occurrence. How, then, can 
the visionaries behold spirit subjects? 

“ The magnet that attracts the mind has built 
no bridge for the material to cross over to its side. 
The highest potency of quivering life vibration is 
not for inner consciousness to conceive in thought 
— which has no existence without comparison — or 
a ‘ state of mind ; ’ nor fashion it after the imag- 
ination of man ; nor encompass it with attributes, 
or limitations of space. It is the origin of force, 
as vibration is the life that lives forever. 

“Fashioned in the image of the mind not un- 
derstood, the great spirit is indeed but the inscrut- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


351 


able haze embodied in G-o-d, as spirit with only 
higher attraction would be but a vibration. The 
independent agent finds its sphere of attraction no 
less on earth than in a higher existence. 

“ So far has the fad advanced that the material 
is too debasing to approach that state of spiritu- 
ality which may realize the existence of the mys- 
terious and wonderful. The beatitude of heaven 
may only be enjoyed in the flesh dedicated to 
heaven. 

“ Desire, the substitute for thought, may attain 
to the exalted. Overcome the material — the sin- 
ful — and you have already entered the spiritual 
state, and enjoy the advantages of the knowledge 
of the future existence. The adept takes no 
notice of death, wdiich is only a release from the 
body, a change, for he is already living in his man 
heaven. 

“ Inner consciousness offers no opportunity for 
reason to become a factor, since there is no sub- 
ject for comparison; and in the lethargy of a 
drifting intellect the perceptions are dormant. 
Esoteric thought is without the vibration of a con- 
sciousness, and ends in the vacuous — mental anae- 
mia which finds expression in semi consciousness, 
visions, hypnotism, mediumism ; as also exalta- 
tion, gushing sermons and prayers, meaningless 
and full of errors. 


352 


A ^^rSTERT EXPLAINED. 


“ The concentration of mind on a subject is a 
misunderstood process of thinking. None can 
hold a subject in mind more than glancing altern- 
ately at a received or memorized impression in 
comparison with other impressions or thought 
subjects. The mind cannot stand still holding a 
subject continuously, more than a windmill in a 
current of air. A constant reproduction of the 
same vibration is an impossibility, it must altern- 
ate with others, even then a too frequent repeti- 
tion — ignorantly called concentration — results in 
speedy exhaustion. Drifting without effort for 
comparison results in languor, semi conscious- 
ness, and ‘ a state of mind ’ to expect visions, and 
give yourself ‘ treatments.’ Concentration of the 
mind is the capital by which the fadist imposes, 
and holds leadership among the weaker minded. 
Will cannot be exercised without a previous con- 
scious vibration of an object. Unconscious vibra- 
tion of brain ether has no existence as thought 
wave. Every conscious vibration represents an 
object or subject, and there can be no impression 
of the cause of the universe to mortals. Yet, how 
strange, without the possibility of a consciousness 
of their goal they affect to believe in a retrograde 
movement — reiucarnation ! 

“ ‘ Involution follows evolution — from unity to 
complexity ; one spirit to the human race — rein- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


353 


carnations without number, and return to the 

unity ’ Absurdity ! The bottomless theory 

of evolution is seized as the leading idea of this 
fanciful creed. Keincamation for the purpose of 
improvement is as likely to take place, as that the 
butterfly sheds her wings, becomes a grub again, 
because they are not as beautiful as desired.” 

Adelaid smiled, knowing too well the drift of 
his sarcasm. “ I can give you a surprise in that 
direction, would you like to have it?” Appar- 
ently he did not care for more revelations, he 
hastily resumed the thread of his entertaining dis- 
course. 

“ And still stranger they should expect relief of 
all tribulation, who have been ambitious, and 
striven for the highest of earth’s favors. It is a 
silly heaven they are picturing for themselves. I, 
on the contrary,, expect neither rest, nor happi- 
ness, if for no other reason than that I cannot 
even entertain a hope of acting on the material to 
accomplish ambitious projects, earth’s possibili- 
ties being beyond control, yet the soul’s earthly 
longings have not vanished. I will even con- 
tinue more desirous with a better understanding 
to be useful to those struggling, whom I have not 
the power to assist or direct.” 

“ As you learn to live in the spirit in that ratio 
will you recede from the flesh.” 


854 


A MTSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


“ Unlike the fadists who affect to believe that 
even in the flesh they can be spiritual, divesting 
all thought of the fleshly, the sinful, ungodly. It 
is a pity this was not known at the creation. The 
pretense to such spirituality springs from ignor- 
ance, and removing yourself from conditions to 
which you are created, at the sacrifice of greater 
loss to others than gain to you, is mental suicide. 
Psalms and hymns make fanatics, cultivation of 
the intellect leads to the spiritual. It is not by 
imitation of another’s ignorance heavenly favor 
is attainable, and your soul is not enobled, nor 
WTested from earth’s conditions by craving desire. 
Cultivation and goodness is the result of necessity, 
and by no means the object of man’s creation; 
for the good and the bad, the intelligent and the 
ignorant, all enter the spirit life. When your 
acts annoy or injure your neighbors you are 
committing a sin. 

“ Your entranced senses see nightmares of their 
own creation ; for the fancy views of heaven are 
not visible to scrutinizing thought, and psalms 
and prayers can least of all enlighten you. Call 
it self communion, (concentration of mind on the 
supernatural has no meaning) but revolve your 
subject in comparisons, and esoteric dreams are 
of the bygone. You are a thinker, not the play- 
thing of illusions, and thoughts will lead you into 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


355 


solid avenues. Comparison results in conclusions 
— and while physical decadence is a fact, the 
spiritual life offers no material proofs. 

“ As the priest in narrowest cell suffers castiga- 
tions, repeats stints of prayers, and works himself 
into semblance of piety, the occult science of the 
adepts is in nerve straining practices, and expec- 
tations to discover the treasure troves of dreams 
of ancient mysticism. The weak can readily see 
an omen in the flitting of the shadow of a mouse 
across the floor ; a word in a book unconsciously 
passed, or a name conveyed in a hammer’s stroke, 
are signs ; the touch of a spirit hand caused by a 
nerve untuned — like the itching of your nose, 
when company comes — is readily seized by the 
credulous novice as encouraging evidence of the 
occult. The master smiles approval to his ela- 
tion, has he not also expected the realms of heaven 
thrown open to his awed soul? Witnessed won- 
ders, heaven forbid, that he should count them, 
may human doubt there never penetrate ! 

“ But few even of the skilled can have this bles- 
sed priviledge; must be content according to 
proficiency with the master’s approving glance. 
Speak of the awful before adepts by closed doors 
and walls in utter darkness, but to teach it, 
let the sun shine on the occult, the common herd 
know of its existence, would be sacriledge. Its 


356 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


favors must be wooed in silent, and in secret, 
arduous tasks. It would no longer be the occult 
science trampled upon by the common man with 
the torch of investigation in his hand. In its 
mystery it has semblance of existence, and the 
East is its home, whose ignorant people are its 
devotees. 

“ The student of the West, whose credulous de- 
sire overtops his reason, cannot fathom the mean- 
ing concealed in the pitying smile of the adept 
for his western ignorance ; as if lightning could 
be flashed from every one’s finger tips, and ax- 
handles could serve as torch lights for street pro- 
cessions. Who would not demand entrance, if 
the fee was not through privations, disappoint- 
ments, and patient waiting and overcoming ? And 
this is the theme for their sermons and excuse for 
results that never come. — Believe ! 

“ Where believing is logic, the fanciful is corol- 
lary. You feel encouraged, hopeful, and rave on, 
yet your imaginary spirituality draws not one jot 
nearer its goal.” 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


357 


CHAPTEE XX. 

Harter’s silent thouhgtfulness was in marked 
contrast to bis late conversational ejfforts, but be 
was not thinking of tbe stoneless grave, as Adelaid 
erroneously supposed. His thoughts ran back to 
tbe evening of tbe play, and for that matter to 
centuries beyond, to which tbe mind was com- 
pelled to revert by tbe association of tbe dim past 
with the mystifying present. He bad but bttle 
rememberance of the evening’s happenings at the 
play, but it was the dominant subject of conver- 
sation of the village people for weeks after bis 
recovery, and it was more a mystery as he 
learned to know this lady. 

Tbe plot which was supposed to have origin in 
past centuries was so familiar to him be almost 
viewed it as an eye witness. The part of more 
recent date came even nearer to bis unhappiness, 
as little as be knew of what followed after tbe 
wretched man abandoned bis dying wife. Was 
all this one of those accidental inventions of which 
we read and doubt their reality, but which are of 
daily occurrence ? He shuddered to tliink of its 


358 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


being perhaps only forgotten by the general public, 
but still alive in the memory of a writer. 

His burning desire for revelations from her own 
lips without daring to ask a question, fearing, yet 
held captive by her many attractions and mystic 
force, how could he gain his object ? The play was 
too truthfully lifelike to be merely the coinciden- 
tal invention of an active brain. A chance allu- 
sion afforded a momentary hope to probe the 
subject without seeming to do so, but the disap- 
pointment was the more acute, the answer being 
equivocal and startling, as he said, “Your play 
seemed to be without a connecting link between 
the first and last part. The one had the impress 
of ancient history, and the other was of a modern 
date.” 

“ I think I am the connecting link between past 
and present,” replied Adelaid thoughtfully. “ You 
are the only one who did not mistake the young 
couple for Sydonia and von Hartmann.” 

He was glad that the danger of a revelation 
was passing, but a shrewd detective like Adelaid 
needed no further admission of a reason for his 
knowledge of the play ; nor need she make excuses 
for disregard of time and events, which might be 
attributed to an amateur playwright, but she 
could not give a specific answer to his question. 

“ I could not give the play as originally con- 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


359 


ceived, nor explain its meaning ; nor am I able 
to give you more than a general idea of its hap- 
penings, and the assurance of its being an actual 
occurrence. Centuries have passed between the 
acts of Grete and the young wife in the play, 
who was once born in the Heermuehle. Was I 
an actor, or an eye witness ? Of that you will 
have to judge, the facts appear as lifelike occur- 
rences, and there is no adding, nor detracting. 

“ You know there are few events that have not 
repeated themselves with so little deviation that 
the one seems but a copy of the other, and the 
most startling of our times seem but poor copies 
of former occurrences. A frontier’s life in no way 
differs from the w^ar ages of former centuries to 
which my story belongs, when war w^as a trade, 
and deeds of daring and courage were the ances- 
ter of cunning and lying in wait to murder and 
hunt the weak and lonely.” 

“ Ah, so, you, too, know the Heermuehle, and 
Grete, Grete — ^unfortunate Grete ! You are again 
in the realms of the mysterious. If I believed in 
spooks, or was afraid of the supernatural, I should 
take flight at the bare possibility of your conjur- 
ing up some hideous scenes.” 

Adelaid was not moved by his sarcasm, but 
enjoying his discomfiture she quietly asked : “And 
why should not a modern interpretation be given 


360 


A MYSTEEY EXPLAINED. 


a scene, which I know from a previous existence ? 
Perhaps you also know it that way, which I may 
not dispute.’’ Her penetrating glance was most 
uncomfortable, but he made no reply, and she 
added : “ Or do you believe I learned historical 

facts known to you by reading your mind, or you 
impressed me? I never saw anything in print 
and can only relate to you my own experience, or 
as much as I remember of what is in my keeping.” 

Even one less under the influence of mystery 
might have been perplexed at this explanation 
and her searching glance. Seeing no escape he 
settled down on his seat hoping the carriage might 
soon drive up, yet he was interested in her story. 

“ The Heermuehle is deserted, and the family 
with their all in hiding, in the forrest, to escape the 
terrors of war. Surrounded by water — the heavy 
rains have overflowed the Altfeld and inundated 
the meadows — the mill, also the dwelling, remind 
of the lost Atlantis, a continent of which people 
read, and wonder, and know little more. Only the 
stable is approachable, standing on higher ground, 
and Grete has returnd by a circuitous route, hop- 
ing under cover of night to save their only cow 
left them, by leading her across the water. The 
necessity of feeding the animal, and the danger 
of marauders discovering its hiding place, com- 
pelled to find safer and more covenient shelter. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


361 


“ The danger of accomplishing her object was 
not so obvious at a distance, but now she could 
hear the shouting of men towards the Kathen- 
berg, and even the clanking of weapons was draw- 
ing nearer. They were yet some distance away, 
but climbing up to the ridge pole in the stable, 
and looking through the owl hole, she could see 
men fighting. One on caparisoned steed particu- 
larly attracted her attention by his shining armor. 
He was seperated from his troop, and almost sur- 
rounded, his escape seemed impossible. Felling 
a man in his way he galloped straight towards 
the mill, apparently the only direction in which 
his escape could be effected. 

“ Frightened almost out of her senses the girl 
hastened to get the cow out of her hiding place, 
though it was not dark yet, but she knew they 
would soon all be at the mill, and there would be 
no saving of Bless, if the soldiers got sight of her. 
0, but cows move so slowly ! They know as little 
of burry as of danger, and with all her pulling on 
the rope, and subdued, frightened urging, sBe had 
only reached the water’s edge when a sonorous 
voice behind her asked, ‘ Is the water deep, my 
child?’ The question not only indicated distrust 
of the treacherous element, but the agitated voice 
revealed alarm, but Grete was so frightened she 
could not speak ; ‘for surely he is a real Bitter,’ 


362 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


she thought, all encased in steel, only his eyes 
visible. She feared for her cow, and expecting a 
demand for it, was almost inclined to throw the 
rope to him. On his nearer approach and repeat- 
ing the question she could only nod her head, 
then, as if a happy thought had come to her, she 
said, ‘ I will show you the way,’ and lightly rais- 
ing herself on the cow’s back called him to follow. 
Yooe, Bless, hott. Bless, hott, weyst, hott nem, 
yooe. Bless, weyst — thus guiding and urging the 
cow with blows with the end of the rope the Bitter 
was piloted through the water. Bossy was thirsty, 
but there was no time to stop, yoo, fort, ‘ Water 
enough over there.’ It was, after all, ’Slow haste, 
pulling one foot after the other out of the soft 
ground, but the way the girl guided the animal 
gave confidence to her follower who quickly held 
up his faster stepping horse to follow in the tracks 
of the bovine. 

“ His flight was not without its humorous side. 
The slender, bare legged girl astride the back of 
the cow piloting the way through the water pro- 
voked a smile in spite of being hard pressed by his 
pursuers. He thought of his friends and was 
glad none saw him, ‘ Crossing the Bubicon,’ he 
said aloud. In their rear it was alive with yelling 
men — a thousand, Grete thought, on horse and 
afoot, plunged into the water, and as soon strug- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


363 


gled to get out again, the ground being too soft 
and dangerous. Alarmed at the increasing dan- 
ger he wished she was on his horse, but she only 
replied — weyst rem, weyst rem, yoo. Bless, turn- 
ing sharp down stream, hot nem, yoo. Bless, and 
the cow disappeared in the rapid stream, the girl 
sitting waist deep in the water. ‘ If your horse 
can’t swim you are lost. Bitter,’ she cried back to 
him, and holding on the cows horns, she was car- 
ried down stream like a boat shooting the rapids. 
Some distance below, on the other side, the cow 
touched bottom and climbed up the bank. 

One of his pursuers succeeded in spite of the 
difficult ground to get near enough to use his 
lance with dangerous effect, his horse miring pre- 
vented a second thrust, before the Bitter was out 
of harms way, and the sudden plunge over the 
bank into the stream ended his ambition in the 
water. 

“ The Bitter perceived Crete’s wisdom in direct- 
ing the cow over firmer ground and down the 
sloping bank of the stream, but they were not out 
of danger, for she knew of a possibility of crossing 
lower down. The cow barely touched dry ground 
when she dismounted. ‘Quick, Bitter, get off 
your horse, and make it follow the cow. We must 
get up the hill before they can overtake us.’ He 
slowly obeyed, and she noticed that his right arm 


304 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


huDg useless at his side, and his motions were 
not at all what she expected, when haste was so 
urgent. Stimulated by shouts of approaching 
men they attempted to climb the hill, hott, and 
weyst, as she directed the cow, up like winding 
steps. 

“ The girl could easily have escaped before their 
pursuers came around the hill near the water’s 
edge, but he was so slow, and so heipless, slipping 
every step. She pulled him by the arm, or was 
at his side, or behind, to steady him, and assisted 
all her feeble strength and the ground admitted, 
to get up the hillside. She despaired, he can 
never get up with the heavy irons on, they were 
not made to climb hills. Down again, and this 
time he made no effort to raise himself and she 
could not lift him, she was ready to cry, but never 
for moment thought of leaving him. ‘Eitter, 
they are coming nearer.’ But he did not respond. 

“ A bright light across the water indicated that 
the stable was burning. ‘ Thank, God, Bless is 
safe,’ fervently said Grete, for a moment relaxing 
her anxiety for the Bitter, whom she could not 
raise, nor bring to consciousness. Nearing foot- 
steps silenced her entreaties. As if consciousness 
returned with approaching danger, he said, ‘ Save 
yourself, girl, leave the warrior to his fate;’ but 
she had no time to think, yells and oaths, pierced 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


366 


her ears, and a man began the ascend of the hill. 
Beaching for a stone partly uncovered by the soft 
ground, Grete stood ready till she was almost with- 
in reach of his lance. Unable to get nearer he 
aimed a blow at her, and she threw the fatal stone. 
He was not able to recover the lance in time to 
ward off the blow. 

“ She had no time for a flood of tears, before 
a second man was in his place. Terrified she 
looked around for a stone, when her eyes caught 
sight of the Bitter’s battle ax. Seizing it and 
jumping down several feet before he could cross 
a deep washout she sent him after the first. ‘ Take 
that from vixen barelegs,’ she said, the ax almost 
going out of her hands, and she fell to the ground 
to save herself from tumbling down, too. ‘ You 
are a hero,’ said the iron man faintly, ‘ I will take 
you to my castle.’ 

“ Her Spitz savagely barking above her, gave 
her assurance that her father was near, and he 
soon called her name, and she told him that 
Bless was safe, but the stable was burned. To- 
gether they succeeded to get the warrior to their 
hiding place, where he was made comfortable, 
Grete under his direction unbuckling his armor. 
The activity let Grete forget the enormity of her 
crime, as she looked at it, of haying probably killed 
two men which afterwards caused floods of tears. 


366 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


The Eitter consoled her that it is not murder in 
war, but self defense. You or he, and as she 
reflected on the matter she was sure it could not 
have been prevented, and she did not know that 
one blow would kill a man. 

“ The Eitter was quite feverish in the night, and 
the arm was painful, and there was no nearer 
surgeon than Fulda, since Schlitz and Lauterbach 
belonged to the enemy, he would ride to the 
former as soon as night set in. He prevailed on 
the parents of Grete, probably with the help of 
some gold, to consent to her accompanying him. 
Her safety demanded her absence for a time, 
and he would send her to his castle on the Ehine, 
a playmate for his daughter Sydonia. 

“ The horse and .cow were secured and in 
the family hiding place, and when evening came 
the Eitter, disguised in a millers suit, and Grete 
in her brother Johannes’ breeches, set out on their 
nocturnal journey to Fulda. The first hour of 
their ride was made in silence demanded by the 
insecurity of the locality, until Grete’s sobs could 
no longer be suppressed. It was not fear, or 
thinking of the dead men, but her weeping mother 
that now in this darkness made her heart feel so 
heavy and lonely. Full of sympathy with the 
child’s grief Graf Usedom took her hand in his, 
and he almost wished she was still at home, it 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


367 


was so difficult to talk to her, or understand the 
dialect of the people, but he succeeded in divert- 
ing her attention and to quiet her fears. And 
in this way he discovered the necessity of an un- 
derstanding of the part each was to play on meet- 
ing the surgeon. Unfamilarity with the dialect, 
in his present disguise, necessitated silence, deaf- 
ness to conceal it, and Grete must on all occa- 
sions speak for him. 

“ It did not seem possible that any news could 
have been received in Fulda from Schlitz, and 
great was his surprise to find guards at the first 
few straggling houses on their way, for the soldier 
readily suspects that men do not travel beats after 
midnight, unless there is a military meaning to it. 
Alarming the inmates of a house a woman anxi- 
ously asked, if war had commenced, and after 
giving the desired information she closed the 
window. The patrol had disappeared leaving the 
road open to nearly the center of the place, 
where a guard met them and after considerable 
consulting and sending to the headman they were 
first conducted to the latter, where permission 
to consult the surgeon under guard, was obtained. 
The news of a battle at Schlitz produced conster- 
nation and despair, and supplanted for a time 
their own tribulations and exorbitant demands of 
the marauding band ravaging the country around 


368 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


Fulda. The surgeon discovered a very serious 
wound, and satisfied that the man was not a spy, 
or an enemy, the guard gave them permission to 
return to their home, which the miller declined to 
do — the roads being unsafe, and he needed the 
attention of the surgeon. 

“ Suspicion being averted his object now was to 
communicate with the enemy whom he suspected 
to be a part of his own force. A thousand Thaler, 
ten thousand loaves of bread, and an hundred 
oxen would leave the place destitute ; it was an 
impossibility to satisfy the demand, and by sun- 
rise the town was threatened with fire and sword, 
and famine later. The Bitter almost forgot to 
groan and wished for a few hours of darkness to 
execute a flank movement ; but dawn was coming 
on and he might not be able to cross the Fulda 
without discovery. He must wait for develop- 
ments, and this is what happened at the appointed 
time for a reply to the enemy’s demand. There 
was much beating of drums, and the line of battle, 
under cover of the forest, extended over a long 
distance, only a small detachment appearing in 
the open field, when an officer and trumpeter 
advanced to renew the commander’s demands, 
which were increased by fifty barrels of barley 
wine for the officers. 

“ The Bitter was not long in aniving at con- 


A IVIYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


369 


elusions and the unexpected happened. To the 
surprise of Grete, and great astonishment of the 
burghers, the miller offered to help them. Seated 
on his sheep skin with the little boy behind him 
he trotted along to see the headman to impart 
important news to him. He had a proposition 
which might stay off a battle for another day, or 
save the town from impending danger. He had 
a large amount of grain at his mill, which he 
offered' the town as a loan. It could be delivered 
in a day, and the distress and threatened famine 
be averted ; he also had a thousand Thaler, and 
for the oxen they might buy off the conscienceless 
enemy with a smaller number. 

“ Grete whispered there was n’t any grain at the 
Heermuehle, and the Bitter replied : ‘ Be still, 
child, I have some other place. A big lie is no 
wwse than a little one, if people will believe you.’ 

“ The headman W’as incredulous, and shook his 
head, as if he had listened to a madman, but the 
people were wild with joy, and urged the accept- 
ance of the generous offer. Delay was what they 
all wanted. The miller offered to parley with the 
enemy, and he would go as hostage till his word 
was made good. If the man was not crazy, the 
offer might succeed, said the headman, as he with 
the doctor and another citizen, advanced to the 
parley ; the miller being too weak to walk rode 


370 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


his horse. Within twenty yards of the officer the 
miller halted, permitting the others to make his 
proposition. 

“The officer seemed not to hear, for he had 
only eyes for the miller, but was in doubt, which 
was instantly removed by the miller’s command, 
‘forward march,’ and to the amazement of the 
citizens, with salute, the officer obeyed. ‘ Halt, 
right about face, forward march,’ was commanded 
— ^giving the headman a sign, they approached 
the troop to within a few yards, ‘ halt,’ again was 
the order, and the officer was instructed to recall 
the troops, the officers instantly to report. The , 
force proved to be small, but with an army of 
thieves and camp followers, numbered over a thou- 
sand. The latter class kept well out of the way 
of Graf Usedom, their harvest being surer far- 
thest from his mowing. 

“ Varied emotions wwe perceptible in the fea- 
tures of ihe half circle of officers, some thirty in 
number, facing the center, occupied by the miller 
and citizens. Indignation was the predominating 
feeling, as their eyes rested on the bowed form 
of their commander in a miller’s garb, with diffi- 
culty sitting his horse. Every man felt respons- 
ible for his unmilitary appearance, in which he 
presented himself. Only one man had the ap- 
pearance of sullen defiance in his answer : ‘ The 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


371 


order to rejoin the main body at Lauterbach by 
forced marches, if necessary, was, owing to sick- 
ness, impracticable of more rapid execution.* 

“ Instantly the captain next in rank, saluted 
and stated that to the best of his knowledge drunk- 
enness was the most prevalent disease. There 
was no surprise at this outbreak of a long nursed 
animosity ; but the surgeon affirmed the captain’s 
statement, reporting the sanitary condition good. 
Graf Usedom dropped his head, a most painful 
resolution was coming to the surface, and his 
voice was deeply affected, as he said : ‘ The blood 
of five hundred comrades rests upon the head of 
the author of this six day’s revelry. I would give 
this arm, if it had not occurred.’ To the conster- 
nation of the officers the upward motion of the 
arm was arrested by the small hand of the boy 
and gently pressed down. Sadly looking over his 
shoulder he said : ‘ You are right, child, I must 
not move this arm, twice saved by you to punish 
disobedience — disarmed, guard, to the rear.’ 

“ ‘ March within the hour,’ he turned to the 
officers, and with a wave of the hand all were 
dimissed, but the surgeon who remained to con- 
sult with surgeon Knispel of Fulda in regard to 
the wounded commander. An arrangement was 
made concerning Grete’s safe return to her par- 
ents, which ended the battle of Fulda. 


372 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


“The citizens wept tears of joy, and each 
wished he could get first into the city to tell the 
good news ; but their curiosity how Grete saved 
the life of the Graf, was not satisfied, for she 
declined to accompany them, sending word to her 
mother, and father, and brother, she would return 
when the war in the Heermuehle was over. But 
later the true story leaked out, when the towns 
people sent a man to the mill to deliver the mes- 
sages and get the important news. To his dying 
day the doctor of Fulda declared the officer 
relieved of his command was the subject of a 
hanging. It was a great pity that all Fulda could 
not be there to witness so just a punishment. 


A MYSTEEY EXPLAINED. 


373 


CHAPTEK XXL 

“ The Graf was surprised at the promptness of 
Grete’s decision, and curious to know her reason. 
In the case of a boy he could easily have divined 
his reason for wanting to be with the army ; for 
was there ever a boy not attracted by military 
pomp, precision, and order, and gayety ? A girl 
must have different reasons, he thought ; for she 
was not of an age to be suspected of girlish 
dreams. Not knowing the hardship of camp life, 
its distress, and disorder, and privations, she was 
perhaps only attracted by the novelty and contrast 
between the camp and the home life. Confined 
to playing in the brook with her brother, younger 
than herself, her only playmate, selecting the 
smoothest pebbles to throw at fish or birds ; or 
moodily sitting at the spinning wheel impatient 
for her play, had been the child’s only experience. 
There were no schools for peasants then, she could 
neither read nor write, and the Heermuehle was 
a lonely place. Of house work there was none to 
do except at intervals to use the unwieldy birch 
broom which the shepherd makes, to sweep the 


374 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


living room, part of the mill, of the dirt too coarse 
to escape the birches. Mills were not then such 
grand castles as they are to day. People brought 
a bag of grain and hung around till their turn 
came to have it ground through the sand stone 
mortar. Such were the chances of her life. In 
planting time the scene varied in that all hands, 
big and small, spaded or plowed the ground with 
sharp sticks. Boots, vegetables, and grain — 
potatoes were not known — served as daily food. 
The peasant’s lot was few wants, and limited 
enjoyment. 

“ The last few days experience contained more 
of real life than dreams could have revealed to 
her. How much she had seen to tell her brother, 
when she returned to the Heermuehle ; even her 
father could not know all there was going on in 
the world, and he had been in Schlitz of which he 
often spoke, but how could they be compared to 
men on prancing horses, as they filed past the 
tent of the commander. All seemed glad they 
were moving. The Graf’s own neighing, pawing 
steed — held by an orderly — at bugle blast, seemed 
to indicate the general feeling of soldiers and 
horses. The camp followers alone were in dis- 
tress; fearing the revenge of the Fuldaer they 
could not risk to be left behind, to gather up their 
stealings, and belongings. Already throngs were 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


375 


coming from the town. The rear was never a 
safe position on a hurried march. 

“ All this had its climax for the girl, which the 
Graf could never have surmised. It was purely 
her admiration for a man who could avert a war, 
was saluted, and obeyed by all, even to the mak- 
ing of their commander a prisoner. There was 
only that big lie to offset this greatness in which 
her bewildered inexperience culminated. It was 
natural for her thoughts to run on familiar sub- 
jects, and the ruse was not half divined ; really 
she did not see the need of lying at all. Her 
confusion broke forth in shyly asking questions, 
‘ Why he did not tell them in the town that he 
was the commander ? ’ 

“ ‘ And be imprisoned, perhaps killed ? Or be 
held for pay for all these men had stolen ? ’ Her 
puzzled countenance showed how new this was to 
her. Abruptly changing the subject he asked, if 
she would like to be a soldier ? To rest her weary 
limbs she was walking by the side of his steed 
which had become familiar with her, making fre- 
quent playful passes towards her. The horse was 
vicious even in his playfulness and a pull on the 
reins was necessary to check him. ‘A soldier 
like these ? ’ she pointed to a group of camp follow- 
ers resting by the roadside, and her grimace 
accompanying these words was an answer to his 


3Y6 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


question. ‘ I want to go to your castle and work 
for you/ she shyly added. He was pleased to 
notice how solicitous she was for his comfort, 
when she asked if he was not in pain now, he said 
‘ just as much ; ’ but he did n’t groan now. ‘ What ! 
let the soldiers hear it ? They would laugh at me.’ 
This was another lesson, a great commander must 
not show any weakness like other men. 

“ She was ashamed of the ill fitting clothes she 
had to wear, but the tailor already had instruc- 
tions to fit a suit for Johannes Heermiller. The 
Graf told her she must fit herself into her clothes 
as every one must fit himself into his place. It 
was rarely that the place met our desire. Her 
suit was to be half military, half page, her hair 
was long, but doubled under her cap none could 
discover it, and only the vassals had shorn hair. 
Johannes had an attractive face, and dressed in 
his tight fitting breeches and doublet, the Graf 
was surprised at his fine boyish figure. He is 
learning to read and write, and rides near the 
Graf, falling back when any of his suit are pres- 
ent. He delights in dressing the Graf’s wounds, 
and his fingers have the touch of the experienced 
nurse of the gentler sex. 

“ The route of march lay in the direction of 
Huenfeld on the river Hauna, which they would 
reach before night. Somewhere on the route from 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


37T 


Huenfeld to Hersfeld, at the confluence of the 
Hauna and the Fulda, he expected to join his main 
force, if it had not already crossed this line to- 
wards the Thueringer land. It was a distance of six 
hour’s, past Burghaun, a walled stronghold on the 
Hauna. It was not unexpected that the advance 
guard was already in touch with their comrades, 
but even military news traveled as slow as cart 
wheels, and the field telegraph was not yet a 
necessity. On the following morning after the 
first night in a military camp, Johannes was 
dressing the Graf’s wounds, applying decoctions, 
when two reports came in. One was that the pris- 
oner had escaped. ‘ Hang his guard,’ was com- 
manded, but they had escaped with the prisoner. 
The second report was that a countermarch was 
ordered from head quarters. 

Their route now lay southward — Schlitz, Lau- 
terhach — a detachement of horse was sent after 
the fugitives as far as Fulda, w^here, no doubt, doc- 
tor Knispel joined in the hunt to be in at the 
death. The Fulda was recrossed in different 
localities, but mainly at Queck. A force was sent 
over the Eichberg, crossing at Hutzdorf to take 
the hills, on the right bank of the Altfeld, com- 
manding the treacherous place which a few days 
before made the assault on his rear. A great 
temptation to teach Schlitz a lesson, must be 


378 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


forgone, its walls being an obstacle to quick action 
it was saved a diversion from an enemy. Accom- 
panied by Johannes, and a strong escort, in 
charge of an officer, the Graf made a detour to 
the Heermuehle, his last battlefield, over the Fin- 
kenberg, where he had also posted a force to have 
an eye on the enemy from the west side. He was 
ostensibly going to recover his armor, but really 
to give Grete’s parents an opportunity to see her 
in a military suit and say farewell. 

“Familiar with the locality, the Graf instructed 
Johannes to lead the way, he and the officer 
following, and the escort bringing up the rear. 
Most of the way was through dense forrest with- 
out a road or only a path, but she followed the 
direction obtained from a peasant, and forged 
ahead. How the poor girl’s heart beat the nearer 
they approached her home ! Her horse, too, 
seemed to share her nervousness, and stepped off 
lively. Arriving at an open space she indicated 
it, as here is where you were surrounded. 

“ ‘ I was crowded away from my men,’ said the 
Graf to the officer at his side ; or, ‘ rather fighting 
and riding to get away from the enemy, they had 
little time to care for me, and we became sepe- 
rated. When I broke away I had lost my bearing 
and rode for the mill.’ Johannes, too, rode for 
the mill, and when the Graf came up they found 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


3Y9 


him heart broken over a pile of ruins which had 
been the family home. ‘ Oh, my poor father, and 
mother, they have now no home for brother.* 
The Graf was surprised and feared violence might 
have been done to the people on his account. He 
encouraged the boy, ‘They will build another 
house,’ turning to the officer he explained how he 
crossed the water which had now mostly subsided. 

“Johannes could not control his impatience. 
He led down to a place where the bed was wider 
and the water not so deep, and without hesitation 
plunged into the stream, leaping to his feet on the 
saddle. The officers hesitated, but were compelled 
to use the same strategy ; but Johannes could not 
wait, he disappeared in the forest before any were 
over. Where the forest became too dense he 
threw the reins over a limb and proceeded more 
swdftly on foot. Here the troop dismounted, and 
Graf Usedom and his friend, went in search of the 
miller’s place of concealment, but they emerged on 
the brow of the hill, where Johannes was sitting, 
lamenting and weeping at not finding his parents. 
It was pitiable, his pride in his new clothes having 
now given way to genuine grief and fear for their 
safety. 

“ ‘ I did not think you would find your folks,’ 
said the Graf in an effort to divert the child’s 
attention ; ‘ but wait we will go over the ground 


380 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


together. It was here where our last battle was 
fought, and two soldiers paid with their lives for 
their boldness ; it was a victory of sagacity and 
courage over brute strength, and belongs all to 
Johannes. Go down Baron Kniphausen and see 
how near I was among the dead, Johannes will 
show you.’ 

“ When the Baron puffed back up the hill he 
was in a state of excited admiration. ‘I can now 
understand your feelings, and the interest you 
have in him, and if Johannes is ever in need of a 
friend, I am the second, giving you the first place, 
you bear that in mind, my boy,’ he added, warmly 
pressing the boys’ hand. ‘ By our Lady, I’d have 
given my little finger to have seen it ; such deeds 
are only the occurrence of a lifetime.’ 

“ ‘ For that very reason I wanted you to know 
it, there is no knowing how soon one may need a 
friend.’ And whatever else the Graf said Johan- 
nes was too far in advance to hear more than the 
Baron’s expletives as at intervals they broke on 
his ear. Following his call they were approach- 
ing the glen. A trusty escort could be sent to 
his Schloss, suggested the Baron. 

“ ‘ Your son will be at home, and I have only 
a daughter.’ 

“ The Baron bit his lip, and said, ‘ You are right, 
and it is only a few days’ farther to your chateau.’ 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


381 


“ ‘ To be made a menial in my absence. I think 
when there was only this slender child between me 
and death, I owe her more than that, and can 
" instruct her myself.’ 

“All three searched the place over, in and 
around the Versteck without discovering a clue 
to the family’s whereabouts. If the officers had 
suspicions of foul play by the marauders who 
burnt the house they were too considerate of the 
boy’s feelings to express it. And not a trace of 
Bless, nor the armor. There was evidence of a 
recent scuffle, and that, too, the Graf passed 
over unmentioned. Not a scrap of anything 
remaining convinced the Graf that thieves were 
not guilty of their removal, nor that the people 
took alarm at his peaceful mission. In the face 
of this desertion he was absolved of any conscien- 
tious scruples for taking Johannes away. It was 
deplorable not to be able to leave some message 
to convey the intelligence of their having been 
there, other than the return of their old clothes, 
by w’hich the family would recognize their child’s 
presence, as no others knew of their concealment. 
Grete arranged some pebbles as in their childish 
plays, which her brother would recognize, she also 
put some stones in the pockets, and was in better 
spirits after this runic communication. 

“ Disappointed but not hopeless Johannes led 


382i 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


the way westward in the direction of the Eisen- 
berg. It gave her pleasure and satisfaction to 
picture the surprise of her dear parents and 
brother at finding her clothes, as a sure evidence , 
of her visit, they must think she had a new suit — 
were they soldier’fe? Of course man’s clothes, 
for he had said, they were safest. She was as 
proud of her new clothes as a child could be. 
The Graf was concerned for her in anticipation of 
any accident that might befall him, and was dis- 
appointed not to find her parents. His nearness 
to death had made him thoughtful, and he was 
conscientious and far seeing — there was danger 
for her attractive face, if discovered. 

“ The necessity of the times was to subsist the 
soldiery mainly on the country of occupation, but 
the assault near Schlitz was unprovoked and a 
surprise. Graf Gcerz, not he of Tyrol, who cap- 
tured the Patriarch of Villanova and compelled 
him to ride to prison backwards on an ass holding 
his tail as bridle rein, but he of Schlitz, in the 
consciousness of the security of liis burghs, refused 
passage to the troops, and driven behind his walls 
he fell upon the rear for retaliation. The stranger 
was evidently in haste, or Schlitz might today 
not have five burghs to show, though some were 
built at later periods, when the name of Chatten 
had already changed into Franken or Hessen. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAIXED. 


383 


War measures were then equivalent to destruction. 
Schlitz is first known in history as belonging to 
Fulda of which bishopric Bonifacius was the 
founder. He died in Cologn 754. 

“ It was not the Grafs habit to complain on his 
own account, the boy’s sad looking face deeply 
affected him, and to divert him from the subject 
he endeavored to account for the flight of the par- 
ents. They had most likely gone to the burgh for 
safety, he said, never dreaming that a better diver- 
sion was awaiting them. When the burgh opened 
its sleepy eyes on this certain morning it was con- 
fronted by another horror of a battle. The best 
positions overlooking its very kitchen doors were 
swarming with the foe who had only given it a 
day’s delusive rest. Conscious of their weakness 
the only security was within the walls, and that 
would be of short duration. From all sides flee- 
ing peasants brought in the news of a numerous 
force ; thieves, too, sought the shelter of the walls. 
No Grupps could be trained on the hills across 
the Altfeld, now Schlitz, nor on the swarms on 
the Finkenberg, for the most primitive weapons 
were still in use, the spear and sword. Yet 
strange, the day wore on and no challenge came, 
and no movement for an attack. The valley 
down the Schlitz to its confluence with the Fulda 
seemed oppressively peaceful, 


384 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


“ It was thus far only a watching of each other, 
but towards the middle of the day an incident 
occurred which set the dogs of war in motion. 
Among the incoming peasants and thieves there 
was also Hans, the miller’s man, and two boon 
companions. Far from seeking shelter for safety 
inside the walls, they came to spend the miller’s 
gold. The most peaceful intention had at once 
the most warlike results. A considerable force of 
horsemen, soon followed by a detachment afoot, 
dashed from the hill on the right bank of the river 
in the direction of the Hinterburgh. The Fin- 
kenberg side also began to get very lively, and the 
hearts of the Schlitzer leaped to their throats — 
every man to his post, they cried. A general 
attack was expected. 

“ An alarm signaled by an outpost caused by 
three men going towards the town called the 
invaders to action. Two of the men wore peasant’s 
leathern knee breeches, vests and fur caps, the 
third was armored and might be the captive of the 
others, who, one on each side, appeared to be lead- 
ing him. The signal of alarm was communicated 
along the line and resulted in the consequent dash 
of the troops. Too late the men discovered the 
outpost and turned to flee from the trap into which 
they had fallen ; they were captured and met rough 
treatment. The armor was recognized by the sol- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


385 


diers as that of their commander’s, and how did * 
this individual in dirty miller’s clothes come into 
its possession? Was it a murder? The com- 
mander was reported missing and the greatest 
excitement prevailed. The gold found in their 
possession was additional proof of foul play. 

“After a hurried consultation of the officers 
they were marched to headquarters, where a close 
examination of the frightened men resulted in a 
confession. At this juncture the Graf and his 
escort appeared on the scene. In the enjoyment 
of the possession of gold the miller stealthily crept 
to his secret place under a bush, to look at it, 
when all seemed asleep. Hans watched him and 
stole it when all were asleep. He indicated one 
of the others as having set fire to the mill, but 
stoutly denied all knowledge of the miller’s family. 
Grete was incensed at her father’s loss, but cer- 
tain preparations alarmed her, she begged for 
mercy, and a lighter punishment was promised 
for Hans. The prompt execution of rigorous laws 
is the only remedy in war time to suppress out- 
lawry, but every soldier of the Graf’s force would 
have executed a man for less than stealing and 
masquerading in their commander’s armor. 

“ The forward march was already ordered, and 
supposing prisoners were always sent to the rear 
Grete was satisfied. Some days later their crime 


386 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


became known by a parchment secured to the 
culprits, and the additional sum secreted in the 
miller’s old clothes was secure. 

“ Johannes was now to drift with the fortunes of 
war — here today and tomorrow elsewhere. Not 
always in camp, but not at home. She was 
devoted to the Eitter, and saw to his comfort 
when not active in the field, which was greatly 
enjoyed. The Graf became accustomed to his 
girl page and had no thought of her sex ; and she 
grew up a fine boy, and promised to be a hand- 
some man. No one could guess her age, she 
looked several years younger than she was. She 
learned to read and to write, and soon was an 
expert horseman, and became a pattern in deport- 
ment, as a boy, from the illustrious example 
before her, too modest by far for the average 
youth, which increased Johannes’ loveliness. The 
Graf did not seem to notice the change, to him 
she was still the child who saved his life. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


387 


CHAPTEK XXIL 

“ At last, good fortune propitiated her desire to 
go to the castle. The force was ordered into 
winter quarters, where, without going through an 
enemy’s country, Graf Usedom could enjoy a 
much needed rest, if not to regain the use of his 
arm. 

“To Johannes this change proved a terrible 
ordeal. He had acquired the routine of camp life, 
and serving his master in their informal way of 
living, enjoying almost the friendship as an equal, 
he knew absolutely nothing of refinement in the 
presence of ladies and guests of social distinction. 
Johannes’ anomalous existence became frightfully 
apparent to the girl, and the fear of discovery by 
the more penetrating glances of the ladies, Lady 
Sydonia, the Countess, and visitors, maids, and 
servants was a constant menace to his security. 
Of the servants he stood even more in fear of dis- 
covery; for they claimed familiarity and not 
according that they fell to watching him. Johan- 
nes did everything different, and was awkward, 
they criticized by winks and gestures ; and when 


388 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


(''‘N 


J 


they discovered his ignorance of their rhenish dia- 
lect he was at their mercy. 

“ He caught one burly fellow at these tricks and 
very much discouraged he expressed a desire to 
leave. Perceiving his grief the Graf promised 
instant relief. The offending page was banished 
from the house, during Johannes’ stay. Meeting 
him some days later looking very dejected, he was 
reinstated at the instant of Johannes’ intercession. 

“ This act of kind heartedness caused a change 
of feeling towards him, they now looked up to him 
as the Graf’s soldier page, but still he preferred 
lonely walks, when off duty, through field and 
forest, to their company. A crowd of children 
were usually at his heels, drilling the older ones to 
march in line, and leading the younger by the 
hand, or telling them soldier stories. His chief 
amusement was the bow and arrow, or throwing 
stones at fish at which he was an expert. 

“ All fell in love with him and his station was no 
barrier. The castle was full of guests, and among 
them officers, brothers in arms of the Graf who 
had a friendly word when they met him. It was 
even noised that he was a hero, having led a 
retreating force to victory. 

“ In disregard of his danger he mounted the 
Graf’s riderless horse to go in search of his mas- 
ter, when he was overwhelmed and carried back 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


389 


by retreating men. For a time he labored in 
vain to check the fleeing troopers, till he gained 
the ear of some he knew. ‘ Your officers are at 
the front, and the men at the rear. Fie, on such 
men ! Follow me.’ Watching the battle from a 
hill he unexpectedly found himself almost cut off, 
the enemy’s flank advancing. It was here where 
the strategy of a boy proved a success. A few 
hundred men caught his spirit, and formed in line 
dashed after him. The attack from the rear 
caused the enemy’s confusion and retreat. 

“ The Duke, their commander in chief, had 
shaken hands with the boy, and pressed him to 
remain in the service. The Graf was considered 
fortunate to have so faithful a servant. The 
ladies were wild in admiration, and inferior sta- 
tion did not deter them from laying siege to his 
heart in dead earnest. 

“ The Graf was warned, but had no fear of any 
coming disturbance. With his own interest so 
much at heart, Baron von Hartmann had for 
sometime played the spy, and the liking of Lady 
Sydonia, the Graf’s only daughter, for the page, 
was a serious interference in the realization of 
the rewards for his craftiness. He was incensed 
at this plebeian diversion of so near a relative, to 
whose hand he considered his son entitled, if only 
the wayward couple could see it that way. The 


390 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


obstacle must be removed, at all hazards. That 
boy has no right here, whatever he has done for 
the Graf ; but the Baron was aw^are how much 
the brother was attached to the page, and only as 
an eye witness to their flirtations could he hope 
to produce an impression favorable to his plan of 
expulsion. 

“ To please the brother-in-law the Graf con- 
sented to investigate the boy’s conduct, and both 
found it very amusing as long as only servants 
and guests played the comedy of love with him, 
much of which not even the spy had suspected. 
The elderly Lady H. was on the point of eloping 
with Johannes, which the Graf greatly enjoyed, 
to the chagrin of the Baron who was her prospec- 
tive heir. It was outrageous to find the old woman 
the most persistent lover, and owing to her inde- 
pendent position and fortune the most dangerous. 
The familiarity with Sydonia did not seriously dis- 
turb the Graf, he laughed it aw^ay as only child’s 
play. He knew of conditions, as the priest said, 
rendering the frivolity harmless. 

“His temper changed somewhat when even 
the Countess was found to have entered the 
list of law breakers. The Baron was shocked at 
the conduct of his sister, for now the camel’s back 
must break. Fear that she would share the ^ 
page’s fate, robbed him of his pleasure ; for inter- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


391 


ference became absolutely necessary. To the 
demand of instant punishment the Graf said, ‘ I 
warn you to leave that to me ; ’ and some of the 
love sick swains soon became aware there was an 
older, masculine arm behind the scenes, substi- 
tutes taking Johannes’ place. Even the Baron was 
satisfied when his wealthy relative was met by a 
much taller man, and derisive laughter from every 
bush ended her midnight flight. It was left to the 
page’s own ingenuity to disclose himself to Lady 
Sydonia, and the lovers had many a laugh after 
the first shock to her nerves was overcome. 

“ Supersiitiously as the Graf loved Johannes and 
believed in a higher mission bearing on his own 
fate, his intercession for the Countess might not 
have succeeded to appease his anger, humorous 
as would be the lady’s discomfiture at the disclo- 
sure. Johannes knew the Graf’s temper, which 
by the smoothest exterior was raging most within. 
He trembled at the outcome, as she was his most 
persistent tormentor, waylaying, and command- 
ing interviews by authority and threats. The 
house was full of people, and the opportunity to 
disclose Johannes as Grete was not favorable, or 
did the Graf shrink from his peaceful mission, 
though never afraid to meet a foe on the battle 
ground ? 

“ The ladies drink too much wine and in their 


392 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


bcoz say what they would not, if they were sober. 
‘ Must drink with her,’ but, ‘I will not.’ Johan- 
nes sat a few minutes as if transfixed, his eyes 
cast on the floor. The laughable had given way 
to the revolting. He almost shrieked and in a 
moment would have stamped his foot to empha- 
size his determination to rebel, but — what was 
that? He jumped to his feet, his hair rising 
like porcupine quills. The floor moving? He 
sat down again casting a furtive glance around the 
room. It was still light enough plainly to see 
every object. He had no weapon, nor was there 
anything in the room with which he could defend 
himself. Two rows of chairs, a dozen on each side 
of a bare table in the centre of an oblong room 
leaving space for two to pass easily around — a 
small banquet hall, or a council chamber? He 
was not familiar with its locality, and had stepped 
in to escape meeting some women in the corridor, 
the Countess caught sight of him, and following 
had just left the room. 

“A dozen terrible stories told by old sutler 
women, Degenhart’s Liz was full of them, flashed 
through his mind : ‘Underground passages, dun- 
geons of horrors, and torment, skeletons and 
ghosts, were the main features of interest of castle 
stories. If he ran away he was not sure the floor 
had moved, but there — he had not time to form 


A MYSTEKY EXPLAINED. 


393 


a resolution ; it was not the floor, without a creak 
a black opening appeared in the wall ! It was not 
high enough to let a man through standing erect, 
but no sooner was the opening visible than the 
bent form of the Graf stepped into the room. 

“ Had Johannes been guilty of the wrong sug- 
gested by his presence, he would have sunk to the 
floor. The apparition showed no surprise, but 
could not have seen the lonely occupant before 
entering. The opening closed as by magic, and 
without a word the Graf walked out into the 
corridor. This room was in a part of the castle 
remote from his own apartments, he could not 
have been there by accident, but Johannes lost no 
time to make his exit, and felt relieved on being 
again in the corridor and no one in his way. Not 
even in his dreams would he go in that room 
again.’ 

" The uncanny room and its secret passage was 
a nightmare; not a window visible yet lighted, 
he had not sufficient time to investigate, from 
the outside he could not determine its location ; its 
bare furnishings, its object : Council, or judge- 
ment, and execution as well — yes, the floor had 
moved. Now he understood the lady’s meaning. 
Was there a passage leading to some other place ? 
He must desert a place that had no safety for him. 

“ The Graf’s evening meal was often serv^ed in 


894 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


bis apartments, only his page being present to 
wait on him, tonight the latter was absent 
minded and forgetful. ‘What is it, child,’ said 
Graf Usedom towards the close of his repast, 
‘ what troubles you ? ’ 

“ ‘ I must leave the castle as early as tomorrow. 
My longing to see my poor, old mill again has 
robbed me of all pleasure of being here, where I 
ought to be so happy.’ 

“ ‘ If that is your intention let your secret be 
well guarded, and your door as well, also that no 
one will learn your route.’ 

“ Johannes felt like resenting this bit of cool 
advice. Was that all she was to him after having 
professed to do so much, with whom she sat in 
learned conversation like an equal discussing seri- 
ous subjects, to pass the time, and he enjoyed 
her brightness, now to scorn the idea of going 
away, or getting home alive? Not a word of 
encouragement, or to know the real cause, or to 
restrain her. But her store of courage was ex- 
hausted in giving this information, and glad it was 
over. The thought of Baron Kniphausen gave a 
hopeful throb, she could reach him in two days, 
and find protection. The Graf interrupted her 
with a question : If she thought she should be 
happier pounding flax seed for its oil, and live on 
crusts and porridge? ‘You have never tried a 


A mystery explained. 


395 


retreat after the battle was almost won, no man 
ever voluntarily did, ever could, any more than 
to turn your river to flow in the opposite direction.’ 
She was surprised to see him from a side for 
which she had not given him much credit, and 
replied : ‘ If she was at her work why should she 
not be as happy as the others of the family ? ’ 

“ ‘You mean, if you had never left it.’ 

“ Then both relapsed into silence, till Johannes 
began to collect the remnants of the repast. ‘ Sit 
down, and make your supper of what is left, and 
stay in this room.’ She hesitated, but he arose, 
saying : ‘ You are fit to eat at any table, and I 

should have looked to it long ago to set you right, 
if I had known how.’ 

“ Another reason why I should go to whence 
I came.’ 

“ ‘ Like cowards flee before yet the enemy had 
time to draw his bow. Or shall we set up our 
inferiors for our judges ? nevertheless this is the 
reason for my slowness. I could not send you 
here, for love and hatred are only brutality in dis- 
guise.’ 

“ His measured steps in the adjoining apart- 
ment indicated the turmoil of the mind, while 
Johannes, too, was busy thinking of her home, and 
the coarse fare she should be eating there. And 
from that she wandered to the stable, for she was 


890 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


now all boy again, where the best horse washers, 
and the hour of departure that would cut the knot ; 
it would release the Graf from promises so awk- 
ward to fulfill. It was of all the most effectual 
remedy out of a dilemma. 

“As if fate was against the plan, the Graf 
inquired, if he could wear Sydonia’s apparel, 
make ready and return. He had evidently arrived 
at the conclusion that play should cease, which 
Johannes contemplated with dismay. He smarted 
of coming under the suspicion of being an intruder, 
but there was no demurring, nor escape on horse- 
back, for he had only a few minutes to make 
the change till the hour of appointment, not time 
enough to gather up a few of his belongings, at 
least warm clothing for an all night ride over bad 
roads through forests of midnight darkness at 
high noon. 

“ Johannes could easily have bowed to the mul- 
titude of admirers, the Countess included, but to 
meet her alone he became very nervous and ap- 
prehensive the nearer the time approached to 
meet the Graf in his apartments. An uncontrol- 
able fear and apprehension of an impending 
catastrophy oppressed him, breathing was diffi- 
cult, an indescribable anxiety constricted his chest 
and made speech impossible, only a shake of the 
head for answer, his knees threatened to deny 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


397 


support, and be must keep in motion to control the 
nervousness. He only thought how she would 
receive the disclosure, with violence or suppressed 
hatred. It was a mistake not to have given the 
information earlier, but my flight must correct it. 
Sydonia’s trembling hands had tied the last ribbon, 
the two girls kissed and brushed away a tear, and 
now Johannes thought of the Graf. That the 
meeting would occur in his own apartments was 
assurance that he intended no violence, or a scene 
in the page’s presence. The danger lay where 
the shock would fall, whatever might come later, 
but of that he should not be a witness. 

“ Dropping the Graf a curtesy, as he entered, 
Johannes stood at attention for inspection, and 
how well he looked as a girl he could easily per- 
ceive in his features, lit up for a moment with a 
smile, saying : ‘ Well, Grete, I believe now it will 

be the other sex that will go raving over you. 
What did Sydonia say?’ 

“ 0, she has seen me before in this attire, I 
introduced myself to her that way.’ 

“ ‘ That w'as well planned. Was she offended ? ’ 

“ ^ I would not let her. When I perceived she 
was puzzled I threw my arms around her and girl 
fashion kissed her, saying : ‘ I am Grete — there’s 
no harm in a girl’s kiss.’ And I held her for a 
long time, fearing she w'ould run away and cry. 


398 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


She said, ‘ 0, you were such a pretty boy,’ and 
we talked and laughed, till we were surprised by 
Botinus, and I had to be introduced as a dear 
friend, a teacher of Italian.’ 

“ ‘ That was good — a teacher of Italian,’ and 
a new idea seemed to have come to the Graf. 

“ A page reported that her ladyship was indis- 
posed. Taking Grete’s trembling hand he led her 
through various passages to the door of the ap- 
pointed room, himself carrying the lamp, and 
bade her to give the sign. The door flew open, 
but the joyous cry of endearment was instantly 
changed to one of rage, as the Graf pushed Grete 
in before him. ‘ What beast art thou to intrude 
on my privacy,’ the Countess cried, retreating to 
the middle of the room. ‘ Did I not send thee 
message that I was indisposed ? ’ She addressed 
the Graf. 

“ Had Grete been alone she would quickly have 
found her tongue, for she w^as not unarmed and 
had the courage to defend herself against vile im- 
putations ; but the Graf explained, for that reason 
had he brought the physician, ‘Johannes and 
Grete are the same child w'ho saved my life. I 
perceive you have expected him.’ 

“ ‘ Infernal lie — make me a party to cover your 
amours — ?’ And what more she would have 
said was cut short, for with outstretched arms he 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


399 


sprang forward, trembling with excitement and an 
oath on his lips — but never to reach her. Quickly ' 
stepping backwards she stumbled over the trail of 
her skirts, and fell heavily against the panel, the 
floor dropped down and she disappeared. 

“For a moment he stood rooted to the spot, 
then throwing his hands up to his head, he said : 

‘ Heaven’s doom ! ’ turned and led the girl from 
the room. 

“ ‘ Oh, help, rescue her. Save her,’ cried the 
page. 

“ ‘ There is no help, down there ! ’ 

“ It was as much the superstition of the age as 
the knowledge of the locality that even an intelli- 
gent man should stand helplessly aghast before a 
doom. The rich and high in station believed the - 
superstition, and patronized soothsayers, and 
astrologers found their dupes in forecasting the 
horoscope. The stars not only foretold ‘ a doom,’ 
but shaped the life from which there was no 
escape. ‘She is dead, there is nothing to be 
done ; it was her doom, foretold, that saved me 
from violence. Eetire to your room.’ 

“ The expression on his face brooked no contra- 
diction, nor remonstrance; but no sooner was he 
out of sight than the pages steps took wings, dis- 
robing on the way. The female toggery was some- 
thing of a hindrance, but at last they were off, 


400 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


standing in bis own natural suit over wbicli be 
drew another, and half dressed be gathered up a 
suit for Sydonia and ran to her apartments. He 
must have assistance, one familiar with the under- 
ground castle, and who could be entrusted with 
this terrible secret but the daughter, who must 
know the father’s innocence. 

“ Conveying the intelligence in the fewest words 
that Sydonia must exchange the skirts for the 
male suit she became so frightened and help- 
less that the undressing and redressing devolved 
entirely on Johannes, and in this condition he 
dragged her to the room of the accident. Here 
farther progress was impossible, and the i^ounding 
with a chair, and their combined strength to push 
the panel, open was fruitless. 

“ Suddenly Sydonia clutched Johannes’ arm, a 
grating sound was heard, it might be the evening’s 
victim, the room was haunted, but fear prevented 
her running away. A few more blows when the 
pannel suddenly opened and in the gruffest voice 
from cavernous depths came, ‘Who is here?’ 

“ ‘ Help us, ghost, help us.’ 

“ ‘ You want to get out ? ’ It came back as 
before. 

“ ‘ No, we must get down into your regions,’ 
whispered Johannes, ‘ some one has fallen through 
this panel, help ns rescue her,’ 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


401 


“Almost an inhuman laugh was the reply: 
‘ Ha, ha, they don’t exit here without a cause.’ 

“ A curse on your suspicions, help me get down, 
it will be worth your while.’ 

“ ‘ Who was it.’ 

“ A ghost should know without asking.’ 

“ ‘ You are bold and shrewd, too. Step nearer, 
your hand, the light, sit down, now turn, hold by 
your hands and reach the ground. Stand still, if 
you fall in the hole you drown.’ Sydonia also 
came down by the same instructions. 

“ ‘ Without a hook or ladder we are helpless. 
Passing the light around to see how near they 
were to the cavern a startling sight met their eyes. 
Approaching as near as he could, over the middle 
of the dark abyss below, suspended by the trail of 
her skirts, the body of a woman was plainly dis- 
cernible. She was out of reach from the panel, 
for the skirts caught in the trap had drawn her 
away, but standing on the giant’s knee, he holding 
Johannes by his belt, the boy could bend far over 
to get hold of her apparel, and drawing it over 
bring the body within the grasp of his hand. 
The knife removed the garments, and a dull thud, 
not a splash, relieved their breathless suspense. 
Her breathing was restored by friction and whis- 
ky which Johannes always carried in the field, to 
the delight of the unknown giant. She was saved. 


402 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


although her features were livid and distorted, 
there w^as danger unless she could have fresh air 
as well as rubbing. 

“ ‘How can we get to the outside of the castle 
walls ? ’ 

“‘Only through the gates which are closed.’ 

“ ‘ I feel a current of damp air, can it be it 
comes in through a hole I discovered in a clump 
of bushes while chasing a hare?’ Taking the 
lamp Johannes found a passage, and returned 
saying, ‘Here take this,’ handing the man his 
purse, ‘ and if you get us out that way you shall 
have as much more.’ 

“ He eagerly grasped the purse and held the 
hand, asking, ‘ Have we not met before ?’ 

“ ‘ If you were one of the men who ran away at 
X. then we have.’ 

“ ‘ I was one of those who followed your lead,’ 
and he grasped the hand with such violence it was 
painful to bear, and if assured of his silence he 
knew of a better way to the priest’s house.” 

Adelaid rested and Harter said he never heard 
the details, but the Countess recovered and lived 
many years an imbecil without apparent recol- 
lection of the past, and having never again left 
the convent walls. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


403 


CHAPTEE XXIIL 

“ Before yet the castle was astir Johannes rode 
through the gates to seek a home, and station, sex 
even had been denied him, and there was longer 
an abiding in his present sorroundings. He had 
affectionately kissed Sydonia adieu, the poor girl 
was no longer the slave of a woman who existed 
solely for the furtherance of her brother’s selfish 
ends, and her passionate habits. She would 
no longer smirch the Graf’s escutcheon by her 
presence in the castle. It did seem as if Johan- 
nes’ fate was intertwined with the life of the Graf 
who had to come all the way to Schlitz to find 
his protecting, bare legged, little girl. Of his own 
plans Johannes made no revelations to Sydonia, 
had none to make, he only knew that as a place 
of residence for Grete the castle had become 
impossible. Fearing no pursuit he leisurely rode 
along, too full of the night’s events to think of his 
future, or the Graf’s displeasure — surely he cannot 
wish me back after the vile epithets throTO at me 
last night — and his journey’s end was far away, 
his horse needed favoring while yet the way was 


404 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


clear of dangers of too frequent occurrence for 
the safety of the lonely traveler. 

“ He was about to halt for a rest, in the mid- 
dle of the afternoon, when he was startled by 
the clatter of hoofs from the direction whence he 
came. Faint at first, but coming nearer. He had 
never known another horse that could keep up this 
even gaite. The blood rushed to his face, for if 
he is Favorite no other man than the Graf is on 
his back. His first impulse was to spur up and 
get away ; and then concluded it was better to 
watch the other going past from a clump of trees, 
but the horse following neighed as he came oppo- 
site, stopped, and a moment later stood head to 
head with his stable mate, a total stranger on his 
back. 

“ ‘ What is your object in following me ? ‘ 

“ ‘ The most peaceable on earth ; to accompany 
you to your destination.’ 

“ ‘ With my permission, or without ? ’ 

“ ^Not so high, sir, nor so haughty.’ 

“ ‘By whose command, or have you stolen that 
horse ? ’ 

“ ‘ Ghosts should know without asking ques- 
tions,’ he said with the horse laugh of the night 
before, which was so provoking that Johannes cut 
the conversation short. 

“ ‘ Then let us proceed, and you can tell me on 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


405 


the way by whose permission you ride this horse. 
Johannes recognized the man who was one of 
those characters who make soldiering and stealing 
a trade. One of the women in the service of the 
castle he pretended to be his sister, she gave the 
information that Johannes had departed and also 
of the rescue, and her brother’s presence became 
known. The Graf had especially commissioned 
him to follow. 

“ Johannes was the more convinced that he had 
stolen the horse with its rich trappings, although 
he could not explain how he could pass the guard 
without challenge. That the Graf had not sent a 
note was an additional cause for distrust, and if all 
was true who would be the wiser, if his object 
was to perpetrate some villany ? He proved to be 
an incessant talker and a braggart, but Johannes 
was distrustful and on his guard for every motion. 

“ At the lonely inn, where they expected to stop 
for the night, he was soon deep in gambling and 
drinking with characters of the same quality, to 
the neglect of his tired horse ; it was the soldier’s 
pastime and he had probably not had an oppor- 
tunity to spend the sum earned the night before. 

“ How unsafe a family secret was in the posses- 
sion of that man, lamented Johannes at his end of 
the room; but in view of last night’s services 
he was uncertain as to the propriety of riding 


406 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


off with both horses to rid himself of his dis- 
agreeable companion. 

“ Johannes soon perceived there was no rest in 
the unsafety surrounding him and made his pre- 
parations outside, a few coins to the stable boy 
put him in possession of directions of his route 
and the stable was not difficult to enter. 

“ His military clothes so much better than the 
soldier’s, attracted attention — he ate his supper by 
himself — and heard ‘ rank ’ spoken in a stage whis- 
per to which the Braggart replied : ‘ Aid, the hero 
of X.’ It enhanced his own importance, but all 
eyes were turned on Johannes. 

“Would this acrue to his advantage, fear of 
redress keeping their hands off, or the hope of 
more booty prove a stimulant? The Braggart 
was losing, and their object seeemed to be to fill 
him up with drink — a mere question of time and 
the quantity they had in store. The game was 
intensely exciting, a half dozen men crowded 
around the table, all heads bent over the dice. The 
moment to slip unobserved through the door 
behind them had arrived, but there was no occa- 
sion for instant departure. Dropping down behind 
the horses on an armful of straw, he slept, he could 
not tell how long, or what awaked him. The noise 
from the house was fearful, and he went to the door 
and listened, he had no longer a doubt as to the 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


407 


proper moment of departure. Above the din of 
throwing furniture and chairs about, and blows 
with the cutlass, falling on wood and men, and 
yells, and curses, he could hear a voice, saying, ‘ I 
have wnn the horse.’ A woman’s screams, a man 
ran towards the stable, Johannnes shuddered, and 
stepped between his horse and the wall, he had 
placed Favorite in front. ‘ Now let us see if you 
will take him.’ And soon he heard yells of ho, ho, 
but the horse was never trained to obey a stran- 
ger’s commands of ho, and never neglected an op- 
portunity to show his temper, and when a man 
heavily fell to the ground, Johannes led out the 
horses and galloped away. 

“ The moon was rising, it must be near mid- 
night, and it was a long ride till day break. He 
was going leisurely along, there was only one 
horse in the stable, and he had no fear of one 
man going in pursuit. He had not ridden more 
than half an hour, when the most furious gallop- 
ing became audible in his rear, he lost no time to 
turn off the road, and screened by trees soon saw 
the hatless rider dash by, with every jump the 
scabbard clanking on the horse’s ribs. He was 
secure now that his undesirable traveling compan- 
ion was in front and leisurely jogged after him. 
His anticipations of a good breakfast in the next 
inn was only marred by the fear of meeting him, if 


408 


A MYSTEEY EXPLAINED. 


horse and rider were not killed before reaching 
the place. 

“ It was some time in the afternoon as Johannes 
slowly rode from the village within sight of the 
Schloss to pay his respects and crave the hospit- 
ality of the Baron, his friend next to the Graf. 
The loud beating heart, and the sad forebodings 
of failure, the nearer he approached his destina- 
tion, hardly gave an indication of his fate. He 
chided himself for feeling so ill at ease, for could 
he not defend himself? But there would be no 
need of physical defense, no enemy to meet. It all 
came of that woman’s tongue, and but for a dark 
spot on the Graf’s escutcheon, and dear Sydonia. 
The Baron might not fully understand their rela- 
tions, or entertain like suspicions. How could he 
know but all the world was just so mean ! But 
he would not condemn the Graf’s intimate friend 
before he was in possession of the proofs. 

“ Priming up mentally as well as physically he 
rode to the gate and sent in his message for an 
interview with the Baron. Unfortunately the 
latter was not at home, and the Baroness being 
occupied, a message from the Graf could be left 
with the Secretary. In the face of this reception 
Johannes returned the freezing reply, that Graf 
Usedom had not sent any message for the secre- 
tary, and only a verbal deliverance to the Baron 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


409 


were his instructions. ‘ Ah, my great anxiety, my 
dread forebodings of disaster near. My name has 
traveled faster than my fame. I am not her con- 
sorts protege, not proper even to be a servant. 
My first experience in the world, my first freeze 
out in my attempt to stand alone. How hard to 
bear, how little I yet know, notwithstanding the 
last three months have been a great experience to 
me ! What now, go back, or wait till he returns ? 
I cannot stay here, nor accept his assistance. To 
camp? To the Heermuehle?’ Dropping down 
on his couch the girl sobbed the boy to sleep. 

“ The clatter of hoofs on the following day let 
Johannes hope to meet the Baron, but to his sur- 
prise it was a man from the castle in search of 
the horse and the valuable trappings. Johannes 
had the man return to the inn and thus concealed 
the object of his presence, to the annoyance of 
the inquisitive Baroness. She sent for Johannes 
and introduced the subject of the second messen- 
ger with an excuse of duties to perform she could 
not ‘ stroll about the country. The household is 
a woman’s place,’ giving him a withering glance. 

“ ‘ I have no doubt you conduct your household 
duties much more properly than your counsel,’ 
he replied spiritedly, wheeled about and marched 
away. It was now no longer possible to remain 
after this insult, and in the morning he must go. 


410 


A mysteey explained. 


“ In masculine attire the woman’s sensitive na- 
ture asserted its rights. He was now truly for- 
saken, however kindly the Baron might treat him. 
His thoughts turned towards the Heermuehle, but 
what did he want there ? The dear parents and 
brother, to whom Grete had become a stranger, 
would receive her with pleasure and curiosity ; but 
could the cultivated woman now play in the water 
with her ignorant brother ? What a mistake the 
Graf had made in taking her away, or she in 
leaving the castle. 

“The discovery of his slender welcome made 
out door excercise distasteful, and except to see 
that the horses received proper care, Johannes’ 
only amusement was in drawing pictures on the 
wall of his room. His only drawing material 
was charcoal, and for vehicle to render it adhe- 
sive he dipped it in the lamp. The room, a serv- 
ant protested was the meanest in the bouse, and 
Johannes concluded to make a coat of whiting a 
necessity to wipe out his drawing would be doing 
its next occupant a service. As an artist he had 
the teachings of a Koman soldier whose pictures 
of warriors and war steeds scratched on every 
available surface he had so long admired and imi- 
tated till the man took him as a regular pupil. 
The picture was his message and farewell to the 
Baron. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


411 


“ For how many branches might not Johannes 
strike out at the present day, but then woman only 
was permitted to exist, because man needed her. 
The composition of the drawing was a mill on the 
bank of a stream in the middle distance to the 
left, in the foreground on the brow of a hill oppo- 
site to the mill stood two military men, one tall and 
the other short and heavy. In the foreground to 
the right a young officer on a spirited charger rode 
away, bidding a sad adieu to a dream standing 
in front of a castle in the air hovering over the 
valley, it would remind the Baron of promises by 
two officers. The young officer might have been 
waving adieu to his counterpart in features, or 
the handkerchief might wipe away a tribute to 
disappointed hope. The picture would not leave 
the Baron in doubt of its meaning. 

“Altogether Johannes considered his picture 
quite a work of art in black, and he had passed the 
hours pleasantly, and forgetting his tribulations. 
He was startled in his revery, bugle blasts rend- 
ing the stillness of the night, and an embarrassing 
moment had arrived, for was it not best now to 
leave without making his presence known ? In 
this frame of mind he set out to greet the friend, 
and was not greatly disappointed to find it was a 
royal courier, Baron von Trimbach, the bearer of 
despatches for the Baron. Johannes hoped to have 


412 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


escaped observation, for the night was dark, and 
he stept out of the way, but the Courier com- 
manded ‘ Halt ! an officer in the service ? ’ 

“ Saluting, Johannes replied, ‘ Not an officer, 
Johannes Heermiller is my name, here in the 
service of Graf Usedom.’ 

“ ‘ Ah, how fortunate to meet you here,’ holding 
out his hand, * I have despatches for you and was 
instructed by the Duke de Bienville to use my 
power of persuasion to induce you to join the 
service more actively, enlist men and take com- 
mand. Every available man is wanted for an 
active campaign. Take it into favorable consid- 
eration and report at Bonn,’ was the persuasive 
address which ran glibly from his tongue. 

“ ‘I will think of it, though would rather report 
at Treves, if the Graf is also to join his command.’ 

“ ‘ Very good, I have orders for the Graf, and 
will take an early start.’ 

“ Arrived at the grand entrance Johannes made 
halt and saluting passed to the right — he also had 
preparations to make for an early start. Later 
the despatch was brought in by the steward in per- 
son, who tried hard to pass a lie for an excuse. 
‘The blundering servants misunderstood their 
orders, and more like it. An outrage to assign 
such a room to him, wanted to change him to 
other rooms. To which Johannes curtly replied, 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


413 


he had often slept on poorer beds, oftener still had 
only the bare ground for a pillow, at the same 
time going hungry to bed. Hospitality was not 
in the quality of bed and food, but the good will 
it conveyed.’ Shaking hands with a great man, 
and a message from a still greater, had a wonder- 
ful effect. 

“ In a note Johannes thanked the Baron for the 
enjoyment of the hospitality of the Schloss, and 
referred to the drawing as a further message. It 
was an easier task and said much or little as he 
might chose to understand it. He was early 
getting ready for his fateful start, but the sump- 
tuous breakfast set before him he sent back, 
‘ Hoping the cook had survived the strain.’ Hav- 
ing been offered the leavings of the kitchen he 
preferred going to the inn, and he would not now 
give opportunity to smooth over their mean hos- 
pitality. He was still undecided which course to 
follow, his total failure at the Schloss left no 
alternative, but to return to the castle. The same 
reasons that caused him to leave his friends still 
existing there was only enlistment to consider. 
Fear of discovery was a strong motive for hesita- 
tion. Under the Graf’s protection the same dan- 
ger, coming in contact with different men, officers, 
had no existence. His voice was the greatest 
obstacle to secrecy. He laughed through his tears 


414 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


thinking of a screeching female giving high key 
commands to a company of men with basso pro- 
fundi voices ! 

“ No, no, it is useless to think of anything so 
ridiculous ; he had arrived at the inn where fate 
settled his doubts. A small number of men were 
discussing the merits of officers — the news of the 
courier had spread among them. The leader of 
the conversation, a soldier, had his news directly 
from a relative in service at the Schloss, though 
he was not certain about the name, but said he : 
‘Graf Usedom is a good officer, but I would as 
soon follow his cadet. Old officers said, only a 
boy could think of leading a troop down that hill 
without breaking their necks. Every man dis- 
mounted carrying his saddle, and leading the 
horse. Whew ! was that a ride ? ’ 

“ ‘ Were you in that battle ? ’ asked Johannes, 
handing his horse to the stable boy. 

“ ‘ At your command,’ straightening up and 
saluting. 

“ ‘ And you are still alive ? ’ 

“ ‘ We found the way around the hill, too, and 
the fine work we did. Had it all our own way.’ 

“I am Johannes Heermiller,’ holding out his 
hand, ‘ will you go again ? ’ 

“ ‘ At your command, sir.’ 

“ ‘ I will appoint you sub officer, till we are 


A ArrSTERY EXPLAINED. 


415 


mustered in.’ The man was of middle age, pass- 
able looking, and glib of tongue. ‘Moses and 
Aaron,’ wrote Johannes to Sydonia, ‘I whisper the 
commands and he shouts them.’ He raised a 
troop much faster than expected, but reserved his 
own enlistment for the approval of Graf Usedom, 

“ ‘Here comes Favorite and I shall imprint a 
kiss for you right on his nose, where you will find 
it. I feel as if henceforth chaotic darkness lay 
between us, and interminable distance intervened, 
and if I had no fear of the men hearing me I 
should roll on the floor, and cry, and beg the man 
to tie me, hands and feet, and carry me home to 
you. Adieu, adieu, adieu ! 

Grete.’ 

“ How little it would have cost him to overcome 
his pride, and defy the prejudice of narrow minded 
people in the peformance of a duty, had he been 
aware that the man whom wars had spared lay in 
the grasp of an enemy that was never defeated ! 
The culminating perfidy of the Countess, driving 
Grete to the desperate resolution to cross his 
cherished project, rent asunder what under a 
placid exterior his indomitable will had concealed. 
That morning the Graf was found speechless by 
the servant who called to receive the orders for 
the day, ‘ Not immediately dangerous, but never 
again to take the field.’ 


416 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


“ All unconscious of the Graf’s serious illness, 
but mth a heavy heart, Johannes prepared his 
own still earlier demise. He was successful be- 
yond his expectation, in collecting men, raw re- 
cruits, and men who had already seen service, 
flocked to his banner from the villages on his 
route. And he lost no time in drilling them 
every day, in marching and other evolutions that 
by the time he reached his destination be pre- 
sented two well drilled companies, who wanted 
only the arms they were to carry to be efficient 
soldiers. 

“ On the eve of the battle at which Johannes 
was to distinguish himself and receive his death 
blow, Baron von Kniphausen, having only lately 
arrived at the front, found him, and after volubly 
apologizing for his absence and the treatment 
accorded him at the Schloss by ignorant servants 
and the Baroness, too, was not without fault, he 
earnestly entreated him to retire from the field, 
and from the army, and return to his friends, and 
put on the conventional gown of her sex. 

“ ‘ Show the white feather of my sex on the eve 
of a battle ? I was driven to the step when I had 
nowhere to turn, and now in the face of danger 
shall that be said of me? But you have yet 
something to tell me, why is it so urgent I must 
retire to day? Why is not Graf Usedom with his 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


417 


troops? Have I not the same reason for not * 
wishing to return to the castle, which caused me 
to leave it ? ^ 

“ ‘ The Graf is now a hopeless, helpless invalid, 
should not that make a difference ? ’ 

“ Johannes was overwhelmed with grief, and 
the Baron related : ‘ Suspecting something serious 
to have occasioned the visit at the Schloss, espec- 
ially his interpretation of the picture in the miser- 
able room, he had no rest till he had seen the 
Graf, and this was the condition in which he found 
him.’ It was sad news to receive on the eve of a 
tomorrow, when every fibre was strained to its 
utmost, in anticipation of the impending battle; 
a blow, to which Johannes at any time might have 
given way, it completely unnerved him, and there 
was a sleepless night, when everything depended 
on his vigor and selfpossession. Tomorrow, he 
promised, should be his last day vdth the army, 
and if he should fall the Baron promised that he ^ 
would send his body to his friends without expo- 
sure of his secret. 

“ For days the signs of an impending battle had 
multiplied, the enemy was astir early in the morn- 
ing, and every heart trembled for the day. His 
own companies were in the front ranks, an honor 
accorded the recruits for their efficiency in drill. 
They had repeatedly proved their love and confi- 


418 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


dence in their boy commander by their steadiness, 
and repulsions of the enemy’s attacks. He was 
everywhere with his cheer and encouragement. 
When other companies wavered his steady com- 
mand prevented disaster. Then battles were hand 
to hand combats, and no quarters. The assaults 
of the enemy had repeatedly been repulsed, but 
fate had decreed this day was to be his last. Al- 
most the last attack to cover his retreat, the un- 
manageable steed of an enemy, wild with pain 
from spear and arrow, broke through the line, 
and too weak to ward off the lance thrust, mor- 
tally wounded, Johannes sank with the foe to the 
ground. 

“ Two days and a night they marched to the 
castle, men of his own company carrying the litter, 
and were already far advanced on their way, 
when Johannes rallied sufficiently to recognize the 
officer in charge of the escort, Botinus von Hart- 
mann. Botinus had always loved the boy, but 
after Sydonia let him into the secret he was dis- 
consolate not to be able to discover his where- 
abouts, till he was placed in charge of the escort. 
His agonizing solicitude was pitiful, as he watched 
the features of the surgeons, for even a ray of hope, 
when they administered the stimulants and poppy 
tea, to deaden the pain and keep the flicker of life 
within, to yield it up among his friends. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


419 


“ Two days later Grete Fischer sank peacefully 
to rest at the castle, in the arms of Sydonia. 

“ What became of Botinus ? He loved Sydonia 
for the love she bore his love. For many years 
Baron von Kniphausen made periodical pilgrim- 
ages to the room of Grete’s drawing, which he 
kept under lock and key, to fight over again the 
hottest battle of his life. The Baroness and ser- 
vants had learned to keep out of the way of his 
fury, when he emerged from the room, for he said 
that two w^omen had caused the death of the great- 
est heroine on earth, had actually murdered her.” 

Harter had long given up to solve the problem 
of Adelaides mysterious source of historic stories 
which were so intimately related to him. Details of 
which he heard for the first time, in her magic pres- 
ence became so strikingly familiar that he imag- 
ined them true facts. “Keincarnated ? ” he mused 
absent mindedly. “ My Grand — ^what — ? Ances- 
tor? But Botinus von Hartmann never married 
the remarkable Grete, nor Sydonia, he fell soon 
after in battle. Was she repeatedly incarnated ? 
And what relation am I now to her? That first 
Botinus — has she an impression of it ? ” He bit 
his lips, for at that moment Adelaid turned away 
from the window where she had been looking for 
her coach. She looked straight at him and a 
smile twitched in the corners of her mouth, as if 


420 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


slie said, “ I can hear you think.” When she 
again turned to the window, he thought, “ If I 
believed that doctrine of mentally going visiting, 
in a word, it would be very uncomfortable to know 
she had a positive knowledge of my feelings.” 
Adelaid turned, rather mournfully looking at Har- 
ter, he blushed to the roots of his hair, and she 
asked, “What is the matter?” As if mentally 
continuing, she said, “ No, there is no need of 
building a brick wall around your thoughts to keep 
them private property.” He was about to reply 
— your answer belies you, but checked himself, 
and to hide his cofusion said, “ Your coach is late 
today.” 

“ It is coming, the man had the horses shod, 
I notice,” and both walked down stairs. 

Their drive was short, and Adelaid’s remark, 
“ That an Adept might have had his usefulness, 
to learn his impressions, since speech was not in 
evidence to express his thoughts,” may be an 
index of the pleasure she derived. 

“ I was thinking of the point you made, of being 
the ‘ link ’ in your play,” he said, referring to her 
playful answer on that subject. It was a mistake 
which he bitterly regretted a minute later, as she 
nervously replied : 

“ Well, if Grete of several centuries ago met 
her fate in Agnes von Hartmann of a century 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


421 


or less ago, why might not I of to day be she? 
The connection is not difficult to trace.’’ 

It was the nearest she had ever approached a 
positive statement of Agnes’ fate, the subject of 
her play. The name so unexpectedly spoken did 
more than remind him of the night of the play, 
or w’as there still another reason that made it so 
painful to his ear ? It was a gulf between them, 
and instead of bridging it with confidence he 
shrank away, and sought to recover in the sar- 
casm : “ Almost as quick a return as Blavatzky 
who had not time enough to look around in 
heaven, perhaps did not recognize it, being so dif- 
ferent from the creation of her own fancy.” With 
that he held out his hand and said adieu. 


422 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


CHAPTEK XXIV. 

Cold winds and snows drive over the prairie 
now barren, and lifeless, save as the lonely wan- 
derer goes back and forth between his new home 
and the farm, where he does the feeding of the 
stock, and the chores about the barn, and it is 
evident to the neighbors that Cob is rapidly failing 
and will not last through the winter. When the 
house was ready for its lonely occupant the ladies 
showed much sympathy in contributing a com- 
fortable bed. Some thought it was his grief and 
disappointment, while others charged it to his 
loneliness, poor living, a man needs proper care ; 
but Mr. Crab was sure it was that drenching rain 
had found a lodgement in his constitution. But 
Crab always used big words just to hear himself, 
the ladies felt especially spiteful towards Cob’s 
wife. It was neglect. 

He paid no attention to the occasional pains in 
his chest, and the wheeziness and short breath 
would weai^ off in time, he thought, watching one’s 
feelings only aggravates and brings up new symp- 
toms. Alas, with cold weather a cough set in. 


A MYSTEBY EXPLAINED. 


423 


He could now only speak for a few minutes, at a 
time, when his friends came to the hermitage 
which consisted of one large room and a smaller 
bedroom and kitchen combined. 

In the former he received his friends and lect- 
ured, Sundays and evenings, his hearers sitting 
on improvised benches of rough boards laid on 
horses. The women were apt to penetrate to his 
private domain, and ‘rare up the house,’ as one 
Pennsylvania lady called sweeping, dishwashing, 
and other household drudgery. Or they would 
bring some delicacy which he could not prepare 
himself or otherwise obtain. 

* * * * 

He was now too weak to sit up long at a time, 
but still objected to having watchers, and he could 
find his medicine by the light of the moon. His 
patience was unequalled, never complaining of 
suffering, or loneliness, though he would have been 
happy to have his children near, but thought they 
were ill fitted for his surroundings, and he would 
save them that much of their measure of sorrows. 

“ I am used to my loneliness ; a man who does 
not understand the language in a foreign land, or 
one who cannot hear, or does not want to hear, 
is no better off. Do not the deaf acquire the habit 
of living within themselves ? I acquired that habit 
when my presence hushed their voices, and I sat 


424 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


alone with the stars, as now, my thoughts my 
only companions. The voices of neighbors made 
the nights less dreary, and their lighted windows 
were company for which I looked before retiring ; 
rest and night bring discouragement which day- 
light may dissipate, and my parched, burning 
tongue required frequent lavement. My sleep 
was short and unrefreshing — it was loneliness. 

“ My heart bleeds for them and I would vainly 
bear their burden, and shield them ; and though 
I cannot guide them, and my counsel cannot ad- 
vise, nor sympathy ease their pain, it is the vain 
hope that makes the parting harder. There never 
was son or daughter advised by a father’s counsel, 
on that account a man’s parting should be easy. 
It is the love begetting hope to be helpful in need, 
which the sensitive nature cannot overcome. I 
have been their teacher by day, and their physi- 
cian, and nurse, and companion in suffering by 
night, yet I knew, some day it would be like this. 
But our children will know us better, when they 
fill our places. 

“ There never was a page written under such 
trying conditions, and surrounded by obstacles, 
than have beset me in writing my thoughts on this 
interesting subject. Hardly an hour of the day 
that I have not had interruptions of my thoughts 
and laborious chirography, housework and remin- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


4:25 


ders of idleness filling up the gaps. The ingenu- 
ity in devising harassment was worthy of a better 
cause. I may have deserved all this, and have a 
temper and spoken quickly, I have been a drag on 
vain, unprofitable ambition, to which a clearer 
foresight doomed me. May it all soon be over, 
and not to betray resentment let the anthem be 
whistled to music without notes. But the new 
thought to prepare for the life eternal is not to 
begin by breaking faith with the old. 

“ Man’s thoughts are the well spring of his acts, 
and by the latter we make our estimate of him ; 
and as the fruit of his thoughts, even accidents 
that are brought upon him without conscious 
thinking, go to make up his personality, the ag- 
gregate of good in them is the small sum of the 
grand total in the life to come. My greatest un- 
happiness has come from expecting too much of 
others. Promptness was one of my failings and 
chief source of misery, for negligence has no con- 
cern for your feelings. Not the least of my sor- 
row is the blot of having done so little for the old 
age of those I leave behind. Having tried so hard 
to do well I have succeeded best in accomplishing 
nothing. There is but a measure of happiness, 
and a measure of misery for all, and so many die 
of disease, of suicide, of pestilence, or of war ! 

“ To say it, or think it, is not the cause of hap- 


426 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


peniDgs, for the things you want most to pass 
are not controlled by human thoughts. It is a 
poor subterfuge to attribute a result to an unut- 
tered thought. I am surfeited and have suffered 
much from that kind of preaching.’’ 

Not all of Cob’s neighbors could be brought to 
his way of thinking. The most strenuous oppo- 
nents are always those who never investigate the 
subject they oppose, and there was the usual ad- 
mixture of creeds. He had just had a call from 
a missionary, and his friends found him bathed in 
perspiration, lying uncomfortably on his pillows, 
as he had dropped back exhausted, paper and pen- 
cil in hand, in a futile effort to write his last mes- 
sage of love. He had only written : ‘ My dear Son 
and Daughter — I am still hampered by mortal 
flesh, and this causes me to long for you, and to 
grieve for your sorrow — your mother incl ’ 

He could only speak short sentences in a hoarse 
whisper, but by the aid of a few drops of stimu- 
lant and a short rest in a more comfortable posi- 
tion, he revived sufficiently to motion his friends 
around him. Eaised high in his bed, which was 
moved to the open door, and propped up with pil- 
lows, he read in an audible voice his last message 
to his friends, as follows : 

“I have been all through it from where she 
started me. It was a hard task and probably 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


427 


very poorly and slowly performed. Just as a 
man would think, becoming confused and forget- 
ting, and having to do it all over again, not at 
all the way she could think — everything seemed 
known to her the moment you had spoken. A 
higher power (which I will explain ) must have 
been with her. Before you had half said it she 
knew and answered, and even corrected what I 
wanted to say. Her knowledge extended not only 
to this great subject, but to the things of which 
ladies know nothing. She said my plow did n’t 
scour well enough which was one reason why it 
was so hard on the horses. I was astonished — a 
lady glancing along the furrow could tell me what 
many men would pass unnoticed ! 

“ I concluded she must know everything and 
also that, as she said, looking straight at me above 
my eyes, I should be able to solve this mystery 
for myself, though it might be discouraging at the 
beginning. It would give me the education I 
needed, and was better than a university exten- 
sion course, raise me above my plow, but not 
above plowing. As the lark, aloft the plowman’s 
head, braving the moistening dew of the twilight 
morn, chants his praise, it would raise my thought 
to invite impressions not common to mortals, 
opening the door to inspirations from a higher 
sphere. Yes, inspiration from the spirit, the foun- 


428 


A MVSTERY EXPLAINED. 


tain of thought; not thought itself which is a 
human operation, as mind is the aggregate of sev- 
eral processes, and their exercise is not to produce, 
but to be the subject of an action, under it becom- 
ing an actor. In this sense intelligence is ignor- 
ance and mind is chaos of generalities, since you 
cannot define one single attribute, which must 
lead to its source, its spirit mater. It is not ])y 
the ignorance you can poorly hide in ego un- 
defined, that you will ever gain peace and satisfy 
the inquirer. It is by a clear unmystifying defini- 
tion of the process that at last the individual 
man stands forth. 

“ Not the thin I, nor the stupid ego, neither 
the shell with the nut, but the naked undisguised 
man spirit, have crowned my effort, as she pre- 
dicted, and will reward all who will investigate 
the subject with a clear understanding. And 
when thus exposed to view the dross of the fads, 
the fiat religions, stand forth boldly having noth- 
ing left where they held sway. The misleading 
generalities are the product of the imagination. 

“And is not by this interpretation the spirit being 
a thinkable, logical existence ? We do not see it, 
hear it, or Teel it, because not in possession of 
organs operative except by physical impulse. But 
we can think and reason of an existing ethereal 
world, not imaginary or illogical. What is nearer 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


429 


than to think of their doings, their agency of com- 
munication and influence over us ? Knowing that 
we have the faculty of immaterial perception, un- 
controlled by human organ, the inference lies near 
that the ethereal medium of transmission must 
receive its impulse or motive force from a similar 
cause. The stories we dream, when the special 
senses are inoperative, are transmitted vibrations 
of the inappreciable ether sphere; but they do 
not also indicate that spirits invariably produce 
them. As ripples of the stream may be caused 
by pebbles on the bottom, or by winds on the sur- 
face. The vibration of molecules affects the ani- 
mal body as functional stimulant, as also the 
process of the mind. Waves of greater magni- 
tude result in dreams, and visions, and confusion 
and pain. Even as sound may be musical and 
agreeable to the ear, or when not according to 
certain laws, it is only a noise. And have not 
late discoveries demonstrated that an ether exists 
hitherto unsuspected, W'hy not one corresponding 
to our own sphere of existence ? Think this ether 
sphere exists and it is also thinkable that an inde- 
pendent (ether) being exists. 

“ Man is the prototype of a continued indepen- 
dent existence of the spirit in the ether sphere. 
And the latter is the vibrating ether that responds 
to impressions of objects through the senses in its 


430 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


concentric waves — consciousness, according to the 
laws of centripetal force. Thoughts cannot origi- 
nate with man — going outwards. 

“ We bottle electricity as we bottle oxygen, but 
the former is not a fluid or gaseous matter, not 
reducible to solid matter, like other etherial sub- 
stances. It marks another sphere, and is the 
most positive evidence that such a sphere exists ; 
or evidence cannot convince me, that molecular 
vibrating (not electricity) ether sphere is my life 
existence when the body moulders to dust. And 
you, who read my last lines, when I have no lon- 
ger strength to speak to my friends, you will real- 
ize this, if you take the pains to think. 

“Preachers who flatter themselves that the 
origin of religion is an inborn emotion, forget that 
millions born and raised in a religious atmosphere, 
no effort of their own required for development, 
utterly repudiate their teachings. Moreover, sen- 
timent and emotion are the outgrowth of cultiva- 
tion, did not precede religion, while only instincts 
are innate to the animal. Inborn religion leaves 
no choice and Heaven’s solicitude would be super- 
fluous — the coming of the savior contradicts it. 

“ Wafted on the vibrations of ether the primi- 
tive dreamer received his heavenly messages and 
visions of assured existence, when the body of 
friends had gone to decay ; as the clairvoyant can 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


431 


testify to intelligence and knowledge from spheres 
of the dead not otherwise possessed. The com- 
mon occurrence of dreams, and especially the 
physiological misinterpretation of the phenome- 
non, have rendered such evidence of little value, 
because psychology is supposed to originate in 
nerves, especially diseased nerves, and their per- 
verted functions. When the nerves have been 
duly credited, as only propagating conduits of im- 
pressions from without the body, then will man 
learn to understand the meaning of dreams — not 
their import, but because they exist — and look for 
the causes of psychical phenomenae in the sphere 
that we see not, neither can we hear it, but know 
it to exist in the spiritual, which the ignorant 
deny, because of the absence of tangible proofs. 

“ The vibration of cosmic ether sphere convey- 
ing physical impression is communicated to the 
sensitive, the weak, the diseased; or when the 
faculties are at rest — sleep — the dormant brain 
ether being without the special sense impression, 
becomes the plaything of accidental vibration 
impulses, and dreams and visions result accord- 
ing to individual susceptibility and the velocity of 
force at work. The impulse must he of greater 
velocity than molecular vibration therefore of 
special cause — as you might speak near a sleeper 
to cause momentary mind activity — awaking. 


432 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


“ But what does man’s relation to that special 
impulse indicate ? That the brain ether, the con- 
centric vibration of which is cognizance, stands in 
communication with the ether sphere wave is be- 
yond a doubt. That the cause of psychological 
phenomenon lies beyond the vibration of the ether 
sphere through which an intelligent operator is in 
communication with the brain ether, which results 
in dreams, and visions ; since the vibrations from 
storms, or unintelligent agitation of the ether 
sphere could no more produce the story, or vision 
which is impressed on the sleeper, than the blow 
of a hammer on a board could produce musical 
sound. 

“ It proves also that the brain ether which can 
thus stand in communication with the invisible 
intelligence must itself belong to that sphere, can 
consequently not perish in death, but retains its 
individuality in spirit or ether sphere. And how' 
much more can we not learn from it, and finally 
know the mode of primitive man’s creation — form 
even an intelligent thought of the great spirit ? 

“If molecular vibration is cosmic force, the 
creator of all things, where is the great Spirit, to 
whom we pray? Where was he when man was 
created different from other creatures, weaker 
than many, yet stronger than all ; with faculties 
that developed to give him strength, to make him 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


433 


wicked, vain, and avaricious — the preacher of to- 
day is confounded, and cannot distinguish the 
better part from the purely animal instincts; 
where was this great law giver of the universe 
then ? Molecular vibration obeys in the minutest 
particular his mandates, and he cannot swerve 
from his laws, though the universe go to destruc- 
tion, all mankind go to perdition, because he is 
law itself, not a vacilating God of religion — his 
agent is vibration. 

“ You are as a drop of the great ocean and must 
appal at the incomprehensibility of the great spirit 
of the universe ; but he who has thoughtfully ab- 
sorbed molecular vibration as the creative force, 
and knows the nature of mind cannot be without 
a guiding impression of God. It may be more 
difficult to solve, if this is an accidental creation, 
or of special design. If the latter then the incom- 
prehensibility begins for all. The former would 
seem more in harmony with physical processes of 
laws which we understand, and the infidel is dis- 
armed, having of course followed us to this point, 
from whence he can never recede to his shallow 
argument, Hhere is no hereafter,* which remains 
disproved in either case, though he pretend not to 
see it. But if on the other hand this is not an 
accidental existence, then the great spirit worketh 
vith intelligent design, and his implement is 


434 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


molecular vibration of ether sphere. All other 
creations are perishable — man alone survives. 
Through man spirit is created individual — through 
spirit perfection he again becomes as one. 

“ For the rest it is like closing the eyes as the 
first stage to invite sleep, and while brain ether 
is oblivious to cognizing vibrations, if molecular 
vibration were suspended, or lose its influence 
from disease of the body — a nerve, the par vagus 
suspending the heart’s action — then the concentric 
vibration of the spirit (no longer brain ether sus- 
tained by the physical body and receiving its im- 
pressions through special sense), would continue 
to vibrate to consciousness independent of its late 
encumbrance. That is all there is in that change 
called dying, and yet people are afraid of death, 
and friends are 'grieved at our release ! ” 

Not all had heard the last words. His strength 
ebbing away, he barely spoke above a whisper, 
but with frequent rests, and additional stimulants, 
he slowly arrived at the last. It seemed as if 
there was yet something he wished to add, but as 
he brushed his trembling hand over his eyes his 
head dropped back on the pillow, and the paper 
fell to the floor. 

As if he was quietly sleeping, easily, but faintly 
breathing for a few minutes, but in a moment a 
moaning sigh escaped with his expiration — then 


A. MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


436 


all was still. Mr. Hay put his ear down to listen, 
but he was too late to say farewell to the fleeing 
spirit. Cornelius Cob had verified that spirit 
no longer receiving its physical supply awakens 
in its new sphere, as the brain ether with its 
special sense faculties awakes from sleep. 

But for the illegibility of Cob’s manuscript 
Adelaid might never have known how well she 
had sown ; or what became of the man whom she 
met in the field. Solicited by an old farmer, with 
whom Eoni had some trade acquaintance, to 
decipher the badly written and often blurred pages 
he recognized the mysterious rider, and of how 
much interest it would be to Adelaid to know the 
fate of the writer. The ladies were much affected 
by the perusal of the lengthy document, and 
Harter read it with interest, but Eoni’s letter 
added to his perplexities by informing him that 
the young man was impatiently awaiting the op- 
portunity to leave the West. 

Harter had arrived later than usual today and 
it was evident that he was in great tribulation, 
preoccupied and uncommunicative. His friend 
wondered if reincarnation of Agnes was such a 
startling revelation to him, or did he make more 
discoveries than she was willing, not being able for 
the moment to control her emotions ? He must 
have felt that he was dangerously near something 


436 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


to be dreaded. His cogitations had the result of 
being a very unsociable and absent minded com- 
panion on his last visit with his friend. “ The old 
lady, the nurse,” it rang in his ears till he feared 
he should speak his thoughts aloud, w^hen it was 
more than ever necessary to keep the secret con- 
fined to her and himself. Tomorrow he would 
see Mrs. Grace and than leave the East. 

He trembled with excitement, as if on the eve 
of an eventful tomorrow. He feared most for 
his liberty. Viewed in that light it certainly was 
foolish sentimentality that drove him to the risk. 
If he could but confide it to Adelaid, he had such 
unbounded confidence in her skill to manage the 
old lady, or to obtain the desired information ; 
but was it not ungrateful and like serving notice 
on her that there his love was buried? Vacilat- 
ing in his thoughts he at last resolved to be a man, 
as little as he felt like one, and brave it out alone. 
To add' to his misery he had done nothing about 
his MS., having frittered his mornings away, and 
forgotten it in the afternoon in the presence of his 
friend now to hurry back into exile in that mental 
desert which even this happy young man could 
not endure. 

That Eoni was ready to leave w^as a severe 
disappointment, for he still hoped to be able to 
follow the bent of his scientific training, which now 


A MTSTEKT EXPLAINED. 


437 


was all dashed to naught. And it was strange, 
Adelaid was not overflowing with sympathetic sug- 
gestions. She might have been justified to enter- 
tain a feeling of malicious satisfaction at his dis- 
comfiture, but such imputation w^ould be unfair. 
More was the wonder, holding the strings in 
her own hand, why she did not draw them tighter 
around him. The afternoon was decidedly a fail- 
ure, the usual drive being omitted, the hours 
dragged heavily along. Adelaid was not in her 
usual spirits, or not feeling well, when train time 
arrived she would take leave in her rooms, and 
extending her hand expressed regrets at not hav- 
ing succeeded to see him depart in better spirits. 
“ If I have not been able to make you forget your- 
self and your checkered past, it was because I did 
not know better how to do it, and — ” hesitating 
a moment she added, “perhaps owing to your 
lack of confidence in your friend. Here we must 
part.” Admonished of her sibyline gift he held 
her hand, painfully surprised that the accustomed 
daily visit was likely to terminate. “ I cannot live 
where I cannot see you. Why can we not always 
be friends ? ” 

“ You know that such friendships cannot exist 
without causing remark,” she answered with some 
hesitation, permitting her hand to rest in his. 
“You have no other choice than to go West.” 


438 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


CHAPTEK XXV. 

Dear Miss Adelaide — I am on my knees suing 
for pardon. My conduct this evening was out- 
rageous. I was too absent minded to know what 
I was doing, and am ashamed of it. I cannot 
wait till morning to hear from you. I want also 
to ask what you think of that joke of the minis- 
ter? Is it necessary to stop it from going any 
farther, and do you feel very bad about it ? Could 
you feel reconciled to your fate ? I need not say 
that I prize you above any living woman, and 
would not have you feel bad for all this world 
contains. I shall not sleep till I hear from you. 

Yours, sincerely, B. Harter. 

“No such lady there, sir, but a gentleman 
promised to mail the letter to her in the morning,’’ 
said the messenger to announce the failure of his 
mission. 

“Send it by mail?” thundered Harter and 
leaped to his feet, while the messenger rushed for 
the door. “ Did I not tell you to give it to her 
and wait for the answer ? ” 

“ But she was n’t there,” protested the messen- 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


439 


ger getting the door ajar. “You didn’t tell me 
to bring it back,” and with that be made his exit, 
Harter calling after him, “Who was it?” 

“ Don’t know,” came the answer from below. 

Did ever a man have such ill luck as be bad? 
He has not been to the place at all he vociferated, 
but it was now too late to go himself in search of 
bis letter, or Adelaid, and be retired fully con- 
vinced that bis chapter of disasters was all owing 
to “ his luck.” If dreams were reflexions of 
thoughts and occurrences his would have done 
credit to stereoscopic views of hades, as it was he 
only woke up very ill humored, and his first care 
after breakfast was to look for the letter, and find 
Adelaid to straighten out possible misunderstand- 
ings. Of course, the old lady, could wait, it was 
now of less importance to see her, though he was 
not unfaithful to his trust, yet the living had 
gained the ascendency over the dead, not for love’s 
sake alone, but necessity to live for them as well 
as with them. 

He was soon at the next station and was com- 
forted to find the hotel still at the old stand, but 
alas, Adelaid was not a house, nor a tree, rooted to 
the spot, she was nowhere visible, and was not 
known by any name he knew. The lady with 
whom he had dined had left, and nobody was 
there with letters for her, and his persistent ques- 


440 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


tions at last only received shakes of the head for 
answer. 

He sat down in despair, and the meaning of 
her playful remark, she should not be visible after 
yesterday, began to have a significance. “Do 
you mean to say she is gone with bag and bag- 
gage ? ” he again addressed the hotel clerk, look- 
ing like a man whose wife has exchanged him for 
another. 

“ Bless you,” replied the clerk moved to pity, 
“ she never had any baggage here, only took her 
meals, some nabob whose cook has left, don’t 
know her name or where she lives. Women are 
freaky, but there are plenty others may be caught, 
if you only work it right.” This was too much 
for Harter and he beat a hasty retreat, it was a 
good starter on his way to see the old lady, whom 
in his indecision, fears, and doubts he might never 
have found. Under the suspicion of being dis- 
carded it gave new vigor to him, he was mad and 
had no fear of consequences. It was an insult 
to be thus suspected, but there was no use in 
quarreling with everybody. In this frame of 
mind he traversed streets that were once familiar 
to him, but now he was a total stranger and hardly 
realized where he was, till in front of Mrs. Grace’s 
door his violently beating heart admonished him 
of the step he was about to take. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


441 


With his hand on the bell knob he had not 
thought of what he should say, but as if the same 
touch of the button rang the bell and threw open 
the door, he stood there in the broad daylight of 
the morning confronted by the friend he had lost. 
The shock was mutual, she turned ashen and 
scarlet, and neither found speech to express their 
emotion — joy or vexation. She steadied herself 
holding onto the door knob, and defferentially 
bo^\^ng, stepped back throwing the door wide open 
inviting him in by only a motion of the hand. 
Again the hand he would fain have pressed invited 
him into the open door on her right, and as he 
reached out to grasp it, his surprised gaze full 
upon her, she reached for the door to shut it. 

Without a word she closed the door after him 
and he was alone with his surprise, and confusion, 
and maddening suspicion. It was his day of sur- 
prises and this was not the least. Was she not 
Adelaid ? Her hair, her features ? Her complex- 
ion was clear — he could not imagine red hair with- 
out freckles, but Adelaides was an exception. The 
little quivering of the left eye might have been 
more constant under the sudden excitement, and 
the hair less artistically arranged, the dress so 
much admired in Blight was the same, would she 
receive him with this stiffness — not see his hand 
— not utter a word 7 Unless, unless on what 


442 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


horrible secret had he stumbled ? Or was she after 
all another person ? Another person ? Did she 
not recognize him, turn ashy pale, then red as a 
beet ? Held onto the door for support ? Another 
person would have asked for his name, or card, 
and business — ^he was not expected. Was she 
offended, could not hear an explanation ? It was 
a well merited answer for his willingness to forget 
the dead. Unable longer to bear his chagrin and 
fatigue, he dropped on the nearest chair and his 
imagination bounded off on a gallop to give birth 
to the fancies of the excited brain. 

Modesty might have been a reason for her con- 
fusion, or was she in fear of consequences which 
silence must prevent ? He should not have been 
surpised if a stalwart husband with a horse whip 
had entered. At least the police must have been 
notified, for why was he left sitting here, his pres- 
ence in the house forgotten ? It looked as if he 
was already a prisoner. Involuntarily he glanced 
towards the door, and around the room till a 
lady’s knitting basket arrested his attention, and 
for the first time the object of his coming recurred 
to him. She must be very old and feeble and 
require careful preparation. And as if an invisible 
force impelled him to look from the basket on the 
chair, where it was perhaps hurriedly dropped, 
more leisurely around the room, and soon the 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


443 


furniture became familiar, the paintings on the 
wall, and the statuary on the mantle shelf seemed 
old acquaintances. How much he had wished to 
possess a memento, and wondered what had 
become of all the cherished treasures. Her spirit 
seemed to pervade the room, the furniture pro- 
claimed her own hand in its arrangement ; there 
were her trinkets and souvenirs of greater value 
she had held in esteem, loved and revered; the 
books she had read, and admired, and dreamed 
over. Some parcels and larger packages on the 
table arrested his attention, and involuntarily his 
eyes dropped to the floor to discover the valise — 
his valise — where he had left it. It was a touch- 
ing tribute to her memory, to leave everything as 
she had left it, he could not repress his tears and 
stepped nearer for closer inspection, suddenly to 
stand before the closet door, where she had found 
the fatal draught. As if in expectation of her life- 
less body heavily falling to the floor, he stood with 
arms extended, his eyes fixed on the closet door, 
when he was startled still more by a flood of light 
streaming in through the parted curtains on his 
right — the window where she stood on that fatal 
night, and told him, parting the drapery, “how 
she had watched him from that window and he 
never mistrusted how dear a friend he had behind 
this curtain” — and there she stood, as then, 


444 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


parting the curtain to look out across the street, 
the light falling fully on her shapely figure, her 
neck in gracefully curving lines descending to- 
wards the shoulders, the regular features, rosy, 
pouting lips, parted as if to speak, surmounted 
by a straight, Grecian nose, square forhead, and 
prominent eyebrows, and long, thoughtful lashes, 
under which more than one had found a danger- 
ous fascination ; for the large, dark eyes were true 
and honest, and could look very severe. Her chin 
was prominent and square, said to denote firmness. 
The beauty of these outlines was enhanced by the 
pure, healthful white and pink of the flesh tints of 
the features, framed by a profusion of dark, brown 
hair caught in a twist behind, as the sepals of the 
rose become more beautiful by the darker back 
ground of the calyx. It was a lovely picture for 
an artist, which held Harter spell bound. The 
elegant, gorgeous dress — he had no language to 
describe it — but it was only a fit back ground for 
the more lovely picture from which it could not 
detract a glance. Where had he seen a dress — ? 
Ah, with red hair he should say it was the same, 
his dead wife’s wedding dress, and that cluster of 
scintillating diamonds in front clasping a string 
of pearls circling her alabaster throat, “where — ? ” 
She moved and Harter sat motionless, fascinated 
by the beauty and calm pervading the tableau. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


445 


While her left hand held the curtain she raised 
the right, the arm extended, as if to admonish 
to silence, or to beckon him to approach, be was 
uncertain of its meaning. Every motion was his 
wife’s — elegance and grace. A slight turning of 
the head towards him as she dropped the arm 
showed the beauty of her features, corresponding 
in every particular to his wife’s as she must have 
looked at the age of twenty. For a moment she 
remained standing, the drapery still permitting 
the light to prolong the tableau, then the subdued 
weirdness of the room returned to its sombre hue, 
and in measured steps she slowly approached him. 
Seized with consternation and painful recollec- 
tions his tongue refused to give utterance to sound, 
she could not be aware she was not alone. 

“ Come at last, after ages of waiting for you,” 
she said in an even, yet melancholy tone, at the 
same time her eyes steadily and pleasantly regard- 
ing him. He had dropped down on his seat, 
when she moved away from the window, as if his 
tottering legs had given way, unable by a sound 
or sign to reveal his presence. And who was this 
beautiful girl now standing a few feet away, who 
had fascinated and frightened him, and — what 
next? He inwardly shuddered and his under- 
standing was confused. Had she addressed him ? 
He turned his head to ascertain if there was an- 


446 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


other person in the room to whom she had spoken. 
“ When the body walks the earth the grave must 
be empty, ’ she said in the same calm, impas- 
sioned tone, and drawing up a low seat she sat 
directly in front of him placing both hands in his. 

“ I am so glad you are waiting for me, dear, 
the separation has been so long, although I am 
always with you,” she sadly said, yet radiance 
beaming in her features. Harter made out to 
stammer something about a mistake, he had 
called to see Miss Grace. 

“ No, dear, you have called to see me,” she said 
with a bewitching smile. 

“ If any one should come in and find us sitting 
here,” he objected looking uneasily towards the 
door. 

“Are you not my husband? Were we not 
married ? ” 

For the moment he forgot the dark brown hair 
and other differences and said, “ Last night ? ” 

“ Last night ? No, dear, it seems ages ago ; as 
if generations had passed over our heads, and you 
could no longer have a recollection that I am your 
wife. Have we not played under the castle walls 
of the Burgh? Is not your name and mine von 
Hartmann ? There is your valise from our wed- 
ding trip, filled with your things and papers to 
testify. Last night ? Oh, so long ago ! ” She 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


447 


threw herself forward and pressed her lips on his 
hands, giving one audible convulsive sob. “ My 
husband for all time to come,” she said almost in 
a whisper without raising her head. Harter was 
at a loss what to say or do. Gradually embar- 
rassment gave way to pity for the poor demented 
girl, who, familiar with facts obtained from his 
papers, as she pointed out, had forgotten her own 
identity, and in her confusion from reading his 
history claimed a total stranger as her husband. 

Her apparent delusion became conviction with 
him, exciting a feeling of sympathy which mois- 
tened his eyes, for beauty never sues in vain, 
though reason be dethroned. He was reminded of 
the night of the church fair in his western home, 
and what would have become of him, but for the 
unremitting care of strangers that had saved him ? 
“ I should have been a raving maniac,” he said 
bending forward to touch his lips to the glossy 
head in front of him. “ It is a debt I owe for 
what was done for me, and the least I can do to 
pay it — perhaps I can restore her.” 

“ I am sure you can,” interrupted the faltering 
voice of the old lady who had entered unperceived 
and overheard his last remark. Harter started, 
but could not rise without disturbing the figure in 
front of him, who now looked composedly up to 
his face^ her features brightened by a smile, while 


448 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


but a minute before she was shaken with convul- 
sive sobs. 

“ If this is the nurse whom I came to see, please 
tell me how long she has been ill, has she had any 
treatment? She may recover from her dream.” 

“ Oh, ever since that night. She was very sick, 
is really now quite well. I know you can help 
her and must not go away,” and before he really 
understood her she had left the room. 

Ho sat long thinking of “ that night ;” he knew 
of but one night in this house with several echoes 
elsewhere. His revery was dispelled by a soft 
girl hand stealing round his arm, her head nestl- 
ing against his shoulder, her eyes playfully look- 
ing into his as she sat on the arm of his chair — 
she did not look a bit insane, or there have been 
many cases that were healed without attracting 
attention — an amused smile was playing hide and 
seek from the corners of her lips to the dimples 
of her cheeks. Her right hand was gently resting 
on bis, displaying a cluster of diamonds which 
flashed their sprays of light in his eyes. The situ- 
ation was getting embarrassing, but he had not the 
courage to shift his position, or repress the unfor- 
tunate girl. He wished in his heart the old lady 
might come in to liberate him from his too trusting 
patient ; but the house might have been deserted 
for any sign of life he could discover. 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


449 


Was the ring impinging on bis hand, or a slight 
endearing pressure of her playful fingers that 
caused him to look at it then at her face, now so 
close to his, then he turned the ring lightly on her 
finger, watching her features, she even allowed 
him to remove it. “ B. v. H.” were the letters 
engraved inside. (Botinus von Hartmann) “ My 
God, her ring ! ” he exclaimed and pressed it to 
his lips soothingly adding to quiet her alarm, as 
he interpreted her endeavor to hide her face 
behind his arm : “ Better here than in the hands 
of thieves, you shall always wear her ring, you are 
a perfect image of her.” 

Castles in the air are never so grievously dashed 
to earth, as when you anticipate a transport of 
joy in meeting a long absent friend who has ex- 
changed old ties of friendship for new and looks 
surprised at the ado you make. Agnes had so 
often gone through the first meeting, had so often 
thrown herself on his breast in an ecstacy of hap- 
piness that this was like tripping up as you make 
the rush for the embrace. How different from 
the happiness on which she had been living ! 

There was no telling how long this situation 
would have continued, how long he would have 
believed the handsome woman was demented, but 
for the entrance of Marian to announce luncheon. 
Seeing her red head for the second time within 


450 


A MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


the hour, and especially in her true sphere as ser- 
vant was a shock to Harter that did not escape 
the lovely girl. She shook with suppressed laugh- 
ter, first, at the girFs appearance, doing house- 
work in a fashionable ladies’ dress, next, that 
Harter had mistaken her for Adelaid. Yes, his 
convictions grew apace — she was the horrid fraud, 
to whom he had offered Platonic friendship, had 
not withdrawn his hand at the perpetration of the 
preacher’s joke. Hiding her face on his shoulder 
Agnes’ laughter recalled him to his surroundings. 
“Pretty, is n’t she? But she is not Adelaid, I 
am Grete, the incarnated Agnes, your friend,” 
and with that she vanished behind the portier to 
reappear before he had recovered from his sur- 
prise, the same red haired Adelaid he had known 
in Blight. In an instant he was on his feet, but 
let us withdraw behind the curtain, dear reader, 
let their moment of bliss be undisturbed, when 
forgiving is so sweet in the loving woman, and so 
gratefully received by the loving man, a moment 
that may have its echoes and counterfeits alloyed 
with selfishness and reason, but they are never 
like the one, when each exists only for the other. 





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